‘We Need a Aircraft to Go Find Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Emergency Call to Aid Relatives Stranded Off Down Under Coast Unveiled

“We ended up adrift out there,” a 13-year-old boy tells the triple-zero dispatcher, following a swim 2.5 miles in rough, the sea and running 2km to get assistance for his family.

The dispatcher asks how long has elapsed since he set off.

“[It] was ages past … I think they’re far offshore. I think we must get a rescue aircraft to search for them,” he says.

Emergency services have disclosed the distress call made previously after the boy departed from his relatives floating at sea off the Western Australian coast to find rescuers.

His tone remains lucid and collected, even as he voices his fear for his family members.

“I don’t know what their state is right now, and I’m extremely frightened,” he informs the dispatcher.

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in grave peril.”

The Dangerous Incident

The family group had been pulled four kilometres out to sea in stormy conditions while enjoying water sports.

His mum urged him to take his kayak and get assistance, so the teenager commenced, ditching first his failing kayak then his bulky flotation device to swim the distance.

After reaching land – after an extensive period – he sprinted for 2km to retrieve a mobile phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have younger siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he states the emergency services.

“I’m sitting on the beach right now, and I have to also explain – I think I need an medical help because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m completely exhausted. I have hyperthermia, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

A Vacation Gone Wrong

The family was on a break in Quindalup, 125 miles south of Perth. They set off from Geographe Bay some time after 10am on a Friday in late January.

The parent later described that they were having fun when the kids “ventured out too far”. The conditions worsened, they were separated from their equipment, and started drifting.

“It pretty much all turned bad very, very quickly,” she remarked.

The parent also referenced having to make “one of the hardest decisions” to instruct her son to swim ashore.

“I knew he was the strongest and he had the ability to succeed,” she commented.

The Rescue Effort

The youth explained being “extremely winded”.

“I just keep swimming, I do the breaststroke, I do freestyle, I do survival backstroke,” he said.

The call for help was made at approximately 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, ten hours after they first set out, the family were found and brought to safety. They had floated about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The audio was released with the parents' permission.

A forward commander who oversaw the rescue mission said the family was in an “extremely dire situation”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was absolutely critical given how much time they had been in the water and with daylight fading.

“What Austin did was incredibly brave. His bravery and courage in those conditions were exceptional, and his actions were pivotal in bringing about a successful outcome.”

The officer also commended how the teenager calmly conveyed critical information.

When asked to identify the boards for the authorities, the boy said: “They were coloured green and white.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s there, but they had this rod, and there was a catch on the line. Since we hooked one.”