Teenager's Heroic Swim Earns Top Bravery Medal

A Perth teenager who swam 4 kilometres in rough ocean conditions to save his family after they were swept out to sea has been awarded a prestigious bravery medal.

Austin Appelbee made international headlines in February when he made a superhuman swim to shore to raise the alarm after he and his family were pushed offshore while paddleboarding and kayaking in Quindalup, 250km south of Perth.

Award Ceremony

The teenager was awarded the Clarke Gold Medal for bravery by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia (RHSA), an Australian charity that has recognised people who risk their lives to save others since 1874.

Austin Appelbee and his mother Joanne were all smiles after the award ceremony.

Austin, who was 13 at the time, was recognised for his "outstanding bravery and enduring commitment to the preservation of life".

Austin left his mother and two siblings behind in the ocean, swimming through dangerous open waters for four hours to reach shore, then ran 2km to reach a phone to call for help.

"Both his heroic actions to swim and the run to get help were instrumental in alerting emergency services and enabling the successful rescue of his mother, sister and brother," the RHSA said.

His efforts kickstarted a mission that eventually found and rescued his family, who by that time had drifted about 14km offshore and spent 10 hours at sea.

Austin's Reaction

Austin said he was grateful for the prestigious medal, but said the award should be shared with his siblings.

"If they would actually take in and actually learn what my little siblings went through, they would've been getting this award today, and I would've been sitting down at the back," he said.

"And obviously my mum was probably one of the bravest out that day."

Other Award Winners

The Perth schoolboy's medal was one of eight bravery awards presented at WA Government House.

Austin's mother, Joanne Appelbee, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for making "the difficult and courageous decision" to send her son towards shore.

"Her judgement, composure and maternal leadership were integral to a successful rescue outcome," the RHSA said.

Carl Pilkington, an off-duty WA Police officer and volunteer firefighter, was awarded the Gold Medal for saving an older woman from a house fire in Marble Bar in October, 2023.

"Without hesitation, Mr Pilkington entered the burning, smoke-filled home," the RHSA said.

Mr Pilkington worked alone for an extended time, saving the woman and fighting the fire, in extreme temperatures and with minimal resources.

"His bravery, composure and determination in circumstances of grave personal danger directly saved a life," the society said.