‘We Need a Aircraft to Go Find Them’: Teenager’s Distress Call to Aid Family Adrift Off Australian Coast Disclosed

“We became disoriented out there,” the teenager explains to the emergency operator, after swimming 4km in treacherous, open ocean and sprinting two kilometres to summon rescue for his kin.

The call taker questions how much time has gone by since he started out.

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

Emergency services have released the recorded plea made in recent weeks after the youth departed from his family floating at sea off the WA coast to find rescuers.

His voice remains clear and calm, even as he details his concern for his family members.

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

“Mum said to find rescue … We were in serious danger.”

The Perilous Situation

The mother and children had been carried 2.5 miles out to sea in rough conditions while enjoying water sports.

His parent urged him to use his craft and get assistance, so the boy set off, discarding first his waterlogged vessel then his cumbersome lifejacket to cover the remaining stretch.

After reaching land – four hours later – he sprinted for 1.25 miles to access 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 located 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 completely exhausted. I have sunstroke, and I feel like I’m about to faint.”

A Holiday Turned Crisis

The group was on vacation in Quindalup, 200km south of Perth. They departed from Geographe Bay around 10am on a Friday in late January.

The woman later recalled that they were playing around when the children “went out a bit too far”. The conditions worsened, they lost their oars, and started being carried out.

“It sort of all turned bad very, very quickly,” she remarked.

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

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

The Rescue Effort

The youth recalled being “completely out of breath”.

“I just pressed on, I do breaststroke, I do freestyle, I do elementary backstroke,” he said.

The emergency call was made at about 6pm.

At roughly 8.30pm, many hours after they first departed, the family were spotted and rescued. They had floated about fourteen kilometres out to sea.

The recording was released with the mother’s permission.

A police sergeant who coordinated the search and rescue effort said the family was in an “desperately dangerous position”.

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

“What the boy did was incredibly brave. His fortitude and resolve in those conditions were exceptional, and his actions were instrumental in bringing about a rescue.”

The officer also commended how the teenager effectively communicated vital details.

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

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