Swept 8.7 miles offshore, a mom and two kids clung to a paddleboard — until her 'superhuman' 13-year-old ditched his life jacket and took a chance
A family, including a 47-year-old mother, her 13-year-old and 12-year-old sons, and her 8-year-old daughter, was vacationing at Quindalup on Friday, January 30, 2026. When a sudden wind pushed their inflatable paddleboards out to sea in Western Australia's South West, the family clung to the board almost 8.7 miles from the shore. While the mother and her children were unsure whether they would receive help, her 13-year-old son made a risky decision to ditch his old life jacket that would later earn him praise as "superhuman." As reported by ABC News on Monday, February 2, 2026, the boy's quick thinking saved their lives.
The family was nearly 155 miles south of Perth when a sudden harsh wind pushed their inflatable paddleboards and kayak offshore. The mother and the children clung to the paddleboard, unsure if they would be saved by someone. However, the desperate 13-year-old initially attempted to kayak back to shore, but rough waters caused it to start filling with water. Then he took a risk and swam to shore so that he could alert people for help. According to reports, for the first two hours, he swam with a life jacket on. But soon realized he would not make it in time, as the jacket slowed him down. He then took the brave step to ditch the life jacket and swam the next two hours without it.
Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland explained, "He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on. And the brave fella thought he's not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket."
After four hours of intense swimming, the boy reached the shore and was able to alert the rescuers. A multi-agency search was initiated, which included WA Water Police, local marine rescue volunteers, and Western Australia's Rescue Helicopter. South West Police Inspector James Bradley revealed that the teen was able to tell the color and other details of the kayak to help the rescuers locate it. Within an hour, they saw the mother and the siblings clinging to a paddleboard.
Rescuers also praised the mother for keeping her younger children together throughout the ordeal. "She's an absolute hero as well. To keep those two children together and not give up is absolutely incredible," Bresland said. The rescue team was successfully able to bring the family to the shore, where they were taken to the hospital. "Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival," Bresland revealed.
The rescue team was amazed at the "superhuman" teen whose quick thinking saved his entire family from a possible tragedy. Although swimming several miles away from shore is nearly impossible for most humans, the drive to save his family must have pushed the young boy to take the risk, and fortunately, it paid off. After getting discharged from the hospital, the family visited the rescuers to thank them.
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