Western Australia Ocean Rescue
Incident Overview
On a Friday afternoon in Geographe Bay, near Quindalup, approximately 200 kilometers south of Perth, Joanne Appelbee (47) and her three children, Austin (13), Beau (12), and Grace (8), were on inflatable paddleboards and a kayak. Around 11:00 AM, unexpected strong winds began to push their equipment offshore.
The family reported losing oars, and the kayak took on water and flipped, contributing to their drift further out to sea. Joanne Appelbee later stated that she instructed Austin to swim to shore for assistance.
Austin's Journey for Help
Austin initially attempted to paddle the leaking kayak back to shore but eventually abandoned it, along with his life jacket, which he reported was hindering his progress. He then swam approximately four kilometers (2.49 miles) to reach the shore. This swim took an estimated four hours, with Austin reportedly wearing a life jacket for the first two hours before removing it.
Upon reaching land, Austin ran an additional two kilometers (1.24 miles) to locate a phone.
Around 6:00 PM local time, he contacted emergency services (Triple Zero), requesting air and marine support for his family. Following the call, Austin experienced exhaustion and was transported to Busselton Health Campus for medical assessment.
Family Stranded at Sea
Meanwhile, Joanne and her two younger children, Beau and Grace, remained at sea, clinging to a paddleboard. They were all wearing life jackets. Joanne reported tying Grace and Beau to the paddleboards using leg ropes to keep them together. The trio struggled to stay afloat amid strong swells and waves, which frequently overturned the boards. As night fell, conditions became challenging. Shortly before their rescue, a large wave reportedly separated Beau and Grace from Joanne. The family was stranded for an estimated 8 to 10 hours.
Rescue Operation
A multi-agency search and rescue operation was launched, involving WA Water Police, local marine rescue volunteers from Naturaliste Marine Rescue, and Western Australia's Rescue Helicopter. Austin's detailed descriptions of the equipment and the situation assisted search efforts.
At approximately 8:30 PM, the rescue helicopter located Joanne and her children approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) offshore. A volunteer marine rescue vessel was directed to their location and retrieved all three individuals from the water. Joanne reported alerting rescuers to the presence of her children still in the water, who were subsequently found and brought aboard.
Aftermath and Official Recognition
Upon being brought to shore, Joanne, Beau, and Grace received assessment from St John WA paramedics and were transported to Busselton Health Campus. They were later discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries. Austin, who had been taken to the same hospital, was reunited with his family there. He later returned to school using crutches due to sore legs. The Appelbee family subsequently visited marine rescue crews to express their gratitude.
Paul Bresland, commander of Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue, described Austin's efforts as notable and credited Joanne Appelbee's actions with keeping her children with the paddleboard, which he considered critical to their survival. South West Police Inspector James Bradley noted the importance of ocean safety, stating that the life jackets worn by all three individuals contributed to their survival. Inspector Bradley acknowledged Austin's actions, stating his determination and courage ultimately led to the rescue of his mother and siblings.
Western Australia's Premier, Roger Cook, sent a letter to Austin, acknowledging his resilience and determination, and invited the family to Parliament House for a personal meeting.
Professor David Bishop, a muscle exercise physiologist at Victoria University, indicated that high-stress situations can enable individuals to perform beyond perceived limits. Anthony Blazevich, a professor of biomechanics at Edith Cowan University, suggested that the use of survival backstroke and the buoyancy provided by saltwater may have been critical factors in Austin's prolonged swim. He also noted that children can exhibit high endurance, comparable to trained adult athletes, and tend to recover quickly. The incident is reportedly being examined by the resort involved and WorkSafe WA. Authorities have also issued cautionary advice regarding monitoring ocean conditions, particularly offshore winds in locations like Geographe Bay, known for variable conditions.
Tasmania Rip Current Rescue
Incident Overview
On a Saturday afternoon, at approximately 4:30 PM, emergency services received reports that three young individuals had been swept about 50 meters from the shore towards a blowhole at Blackmans Bay Beach, south of Hobart, Tasmania. The individuals, aged 16, 15, and 12, were later identified as Seth Marusarz, Laura Oates, and Indi Marusarz.
Teenagers' Intervention
Before the arrival of emergency services, four teenagers, including Angus Mayes, who were present at the beach, entered the water. They reported hearing screams and observing a distressed parent. Angus Mayes and a friend swam out to Seth Marusarz, who was struggling and indicated he was drowning. They supported him to stay afloat, while two other teenagers also entered the water to assist. Seth informed his rescuers that his girlfriend, Laura Oates, was also in difficulty. The rescuers then swam to Laura, assisting her to the rocks, while the other two boys helped Seth back to safety. Seth's younger sister, Indi, managed to return to the rocks independently.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Police, ambulances, and a lifeguard arrived at the scene following the completion of the rescue by the teenagers. All three rescued youths were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital for medical assessment and were reported to be in stable condition. Cameron Marusarz, father of Seth, expressed gratitude to the teenagers involved. Both Laura Oates and Seth Marusarz also conveyed their thanks to their rescuers.
Official Comments
Tasmania Police commended the four boys for their actions, stating that their intervention prevented a potential tragedy.
While police generally advise against members of the public performing rescues beyond their individual capabilities, they noted that the teenagers involved in this incident were deemed confident and capable swimmers in open-water conditions.