‘We Need a Helicopter to Go Find Them’: Teenager’s Urgent Plea to Rescue Relatives Lost Off Aussie Coast Disclosed

“We became disoriented out there,” a 13-year-old boy informs the emergency operator, having swum 2.5 miles in treacherous, the sea and running 1.25 miles to secure help for his kin.

The operator asks how much time has elapsed since he started out.

“[It] was ages past … I think they’re a long way from land. I think we need a helicopter to search for them,” he states.

Authorities have made public the recorded plea made previously after the youth left his relatives floating at sea off the WA coast to find rescuers.

His demeanour remains clear and calm, even as he voices his worry for his kin.

“I have no idea about what their status is right now, and I’m terrified,” he confides in the operator.

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

The Harrowing Ordeal

The family group had been swept 4km out to sea in stormy conditions while enjoying water sports.

His parent asked him to use his craft and locate rescue, so the youth commenced, ditching first his waterlogged vessel then his cumbersome lifejacket to make the journey by swimming.

After getting to the beach – four hours later – he raced for two kilometres to retrieve a cell phone.

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

“I’m sitting on the beach right now, and I have to also explain – I think I need an paramedic because I think I have exposure … I’m really, I’m completely exhausted. I have heatstroke, and I feel like I’m about to pass out.”

A Holiday Turned Crisis

The family was on holiday in Quindalup, 125 miles south of Perth. They began their trip from Geographe Bay some time after 10am on a Friday in late January.

The parent later explained that they were having fun when the children “went out a bit too far”. The wind picked up, they lost their oars, and started drifting.

“It pretty much all became dangerous very, very quickly,” she said.

The parent also spoke of having to make “an incredibly tough choice” to ask her son to swim ashore.

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

The Search Operation

The youth explained being “completely out of breath”.

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

The call for help was made at approximately 6pm.

At around 8.30pm, many hours after they first departed, the group were located and saved. They had been carried about 14km out to sea.

The emergency call was shared with the mother’s permission.

A senior officer who coordinated the operation said the group was in an “incredibly perilous state”.

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

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

The sergeant also highlighted how the boy clearly relayed vital details.

When asked to detail the boards for the authorities, the youth replied: “They were a green and white colour.”

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