Although a family that ventured into the sea in Geographe Bay, located in the south of Western Australia, was carried away from the shore by strong winds, the sacrifice shown by a 13-year-old teenager saved the lives of the family members.
AzEdu.az reports, citing foreign media, that the family, who went out to sea with a canoe and an air mattress, was caught in the current and drifted due to the strong wind.
Police stated in a declaration that as the wind pushed the inflatable boats off course, the 13-year-old child decided to head towards the shore to call for help.
The teenager, who jumped into the sea because his canoe filled with water, swam approximately 4 kilometers. To move faster, he later removed the life jacket he was wearing. After a struggle lasting approximately four hours, the child reached the shore and informed the relevant authorities around 18:00 in the evening.
Based on the information provided by the teenager, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched near Quindalup beach. As a result, a 47-year-old mother and two children, aged 12 and 8, were found 14 kilometers from the shore. The family members, discovered by a rescue helicopter, were safely brought ashore by volunteer marine rescue teams.
Paul Bresland, commander of the Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group, described the teenager's actions as an “extraordinary effort.” The police, meanwhile, emphasized that marine conditions can change rapidly and highlighted that the family members survived thanks to their life jackets.
It was reported that the health of the hospitalized family members was good. After treatment, they thanked the teams involved in the rescue operation.
