We Require a Chopper to Go Find Them’: Teenager’s Distress Call to Save Loved Ones Lost Off Australian Coast Unveiled

“We became disoriented out there,” a 13-year-old boy informs the 000 call handler, having swum four kilometres in rough, the sea and jogging 2km to get assistance for his family.

The dispatcher questions how much time has gone by since he set off.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re a long way from land. I think we need a chopper to go find them,” he says.

Authorities have disclosed the distress call made previously after the youth departed from his loved ones drifting at sea off the West Australian coast to find rescuers.

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

“I have no idea about what their state is right now, and I’m really scared,” he tells the dispatcher.

“Mum said to seek assistance … We were in massive trouble.”

The Dangerous Incident

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

His mum asked him to take his kayak and find help, so the youth set off, discarding first his sinking craft then his unwieldy PFD to swim the distance.

After getting to the beach – four hours later – he ran for two kilometres to access a phone.

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

“I’m located on the beach right now, and I have to also add – I think I need an medical help because I think I have hypothermia … I’m really, I’m utterly fatigued. I have sunstroke, and I feel like I’m about to faint.”

A Vacation Gone Wrong

The holidaymakers was on vacation in Quindalup, 200km south of Perth. They set off from Geographe Bay some time after 10am on a Friday in late January.

The woman later explained that they were playing around when the children “drifted further than intended”. The breeze strengthened, they lost their oars, and started floating away.

“It sort of all became dangerous very, very quickly,” she said.

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

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

The Successful Mission

The teenager explained being “completely out of breath”.

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

The distress call was made at around 6pm.

At about 8.30pm, ten hours after they first departed, the stranded individuals were located and saved. They had drifted about 9 miles out to sea.

The recording was released with the family’s permission.

A senior officer who oversaw the rescue mission said the family was in an “incredibly perilous state”.

“They were in serious jeopardy, and time was absolutely critical given how much time they had been in the water and with light running out.

“What the boy did was truly remarkable. His heroic actions in those conditions were exceptional, and his actions were instrumental in bringing about a rescue.”

The sergeant also highlighted how the youth effectively communicated critical information.

When asked to identify the paddleboards for the search crew, the boy said: “They were a green and white colour.”

“And I’m not sure if it’s still on, but they had this rod, and there was a fish hooked. As we caught one.”