The incident took place in Geographe Bay, near the tourist town of Quindalup, about 250 kilometers south of Perth, when the boy was with his mother and two siblings practicing water activities with paddle surfboards and an inflatable kayak. A sudden change in weather conditions pushed them out to sea, leaving them adrift and unable to return to shore. Faced with the seriousness of the situation, the teenager made the decision to separate from the group and swim to solid ground to raise the alarm.
He did so without a life jacket and in very adverse conditions, battling fatigue, waves, and currents for nearly four hours. After reaching the coast completely exhausted, the young man managed to alert the emergency services, who launched an extensive search operation with boats and helicopters.
Hours later, the mother and two siblings were located and rescued alive. Authorities have praised the bravery, composure, and resilience of the boy, emphasizing that his actions were crucial for a happy ending and highlighting the importance of taking precautions at sea.