A Perth teenager who swam for four hours through rough ocean conditions to save his family has been awarded a prestigious bravery medal.
Austin Appelbee made international headlines at the age of 13 by swimming 4 kilometres to shore to raise the alarm after he and his family were swept out to sea while paddleboarding and kayaking at a beach in Western Australia’s South West in February.
“Both his heroic actions to swim and the run to get help were instrumental in alerting emergency services and enabling the successful rescue of his mother, sister and brother,” the Royal Humane Society of Australasia (RHSA) said when awarding Austin the Clarke Gold Medal for bravery.
Austin’s mother, Joanne Appelbee, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for making “the difficult and courageous decision” to send her son towards shore.
“Her judgement, composure and maternal leadership were integral to a successful rescue outcome,” the RHSA said.
By Cason Ho.
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