We Require a Chopper to Search For Them’: Teenager’s Urgent Plea to Save Family Lost Off Australian Coast Disclosed

“We ended up adrift out there,” the teenager tells the emergency operator, after swimming 4km in treacherous, open water and jogging 1.25 miles to get assistance for his family.

The call taker asks how long has gone by since he began.

“[It] was quite some time back … I think they’re far offshore. I think we need a chopper to locate them,” he says.

Authorities have disclosed the distress call made in recent weeks after the teen departed from his relatives drifting at sea off the West Australian coast to find rescuers.

His tone remains clear and calm, even as he voices his fear for his family.

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

“Mum said go get help … We were in massive trouble.”

The Perilous Situation

The mother and children had been pulled 2.5 miles out to sea in treacherous conditions while using kayaks and paddleboards.

His mum urged him to use his craft and locate rescue, so the teenager began, ditching first his failing kayak then his bulky flotation device to cover the remaining stretch.

After making it to shore – following a four-hour swim – he raced for 2km to retrieve a mobile phone.

“Hello, my name is Austin … I have two siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight,” he explains the call handler.

“I’m positioned on the beach right now, and I have to also mention – I think I need an ambulance because I think I have a dangerously low body temperature … I’m really, I’m extremely tired. I have hyperthermia, and I feel like I’m about to faint.”

A Getaway in Peril

The holidaymakers was on a break in Quindalup, 200km south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay following 10am on a Friday in late January.

The mother later described that they were having fun when the young ones “drifted further than intended”. The wind picked up, they dropped their paddles, and started floating away.

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

The mother also spoke of having to make “an incredibly tough choice” to send her son to swim to land.

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

The Successful Mission

The teenager recalled being “extremely winded”.

“I just keep swimming, I do breaststroke, I do front crawl, I do a floating stroke,” he said.

The emergency call was made at around 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, ten hours after they first departed, the stranded individuals were spotted and rescued. They had drifted about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The audio was released with the family’s permission.

A forward commander who managed the operation said the family was in an “incredibly perilous state”.

“They were in genuine danger, and time was absolutely critical given how much time they had been in the water and with night approaching.

“What Austin did was truly remarkable. His bravery and courage in those conditions were astonishing, and his actions were crucial in bringing about a successful outcome.”

The officer also commended how the teenager clearly relayed critical information.

When asked to describe the boards for the rescue team, the youth replied: “They were green and white.”

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