We Must Have a Helicopter to Go Find Them’: 13-Year-Old’s Distress Call to Aid Loved Ones Stranded Off Down Under Coast Disclosed

“We became disoriented out there,” a 13-year-old boy explains to the triple-zero dispatcher, after swimming 4km in rough, open ocean and running two kilometres to get assistance for his family.

The operator inquires how long has passed since he set off.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re kilometres out to sea. I think we require a chopper to locate them,” he says.

Police have disclosed the recorded plea made in recent weeks after the youth left his loved ones adrift at sea off the Western Australian coast to find rescuers.

His tone remains steady and composed, even as he expresses his fear for his kin.

“I don’t know what their status is right now, and I’m really scared,” he tells the dispatcher.

“Mum said to find rescue … We were in grave peril.”

The Perilous Situation

The mother and children had been pulled four kilometres out to sea in treacherous conditions while enjoying water sports.

His mother instructed him to take his kayak and find help, so the youth commenced, ditching first his sinking craft then his bulky flotation device to cover the remaining stretch.

After reaching land – following a four-hour swim – he raced for 1.25 miles to retrieve a phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have a brother and sister, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he explains the operator.

“I’m sitting on the beach right now, and I have to also explain – I think I need an paramedic because I think I have hypothermia … I’m really, I’m extremely tired. I have heatstroke, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

A Vacation Gone Wrong

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

The woman later recalled that they were having fun when the kids “went out a bit too far”. The conditions worsened, they dropped their paddles, and started floating away.

“It kind of all became dangerous very, very quickly,” she remarked.

The mother also referenced having to make “a terribly difficult call” to ask her son to swim ashore.

“I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she commented.

The Rescue Effort

The boy described being “very puffed out”.

“I just pressed on, I do the breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do a floating stroke,” he said.

The emergency call was made at approximately 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, many hours after they first departed, the group were located and saved. They had drifted about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The emergency call was released with the mother’s permission.

A police sergeant who oversaw the operation said the family was in an “desperately dangerous position”.

“They were in real trouble, and time was extremely pressing given how long they had been in the water and with daylight fading.

“What the boy did was incredibly brave. His bravery and courage in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were crucial in bringing about a successful outcome.”

The officer also highlighted how the youth calmly conveyed key facts.

When asked to detail the equipment for the authorities, the boy replied: “They were coloured green and white.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s still on, but they had this fishing line, and there was a catch on the line. As we caught one.”