A four-hour swim to get help for his family
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
Rockingham, Australia
February 2, 2026 6:51pm CST
George (@deepizzaguy) entertains us all with his good news stories so I’m ‘borrowing’ his theme to tell you one of my own.
A mother and three children aged 13, 12 and 8 got swept out to sea on a kayak and inflatable paddle-boards. They were holidaying at Quindalup on Western Australia's south-west coast. The 13-year-old boy started to swim for shore. After two hours, he discarded his life-jacket thinking he wouldn’t make it if he didn’t.
After another two hours, he reached shore and raised the alarm. He was able to give a detailed description of the colour of the kayak and rafts and, after an hour’s searching, the little group were found clinging to the kayak.
What an amazing story! The mother is being praised as a hero too for keeping her children together in rough seas for that length of time.
The photo is mine, taken in the same area.
20 people like this
22 responses
@snowy22315 (209168)
• United States
3 Feb
That's amazing. He must have been a super strong and determined kid. It's amazing none of them got attacked by a shark.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb
He was lucky as were his Mum and siblings. I'm sure there are sharks iin that area.
@Ineeddentures (35358)
•
3 Feb
I never even thought about Sharks
It's not a thing we think about here
Whales washed up on beaches, yes
Sharks, no
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
3 Feb
@JudyEv Yes, it was. I'm glad he didn't need the life jacket.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb
@DaddyEvil He must have been getting so exhausted.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136006)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb
Glad they all made it. He is an amazing swimmer
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136006)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Feb
@JudyEv Adrenaline does kick in when it is needed and he needed it that day
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb
@wolfgirl569 He needed all the help he could get.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128844)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
That is awesome that he was willing to risk his life to save his family. But then again, did he really have any other choice? Anyway, I'm glad the story had a happy ending. It's amazing what people can accomplish (even children) when their survival instinct kicks in.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128844)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
@JudyEv A mother must protect her babies, and find a way to ensure the greatest chance of rescue. Although it was a gamble that could have ended tragically, I think it was the right call to send the son off to find help.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (35358)
•
3 Feb
Amazing story right enough
For a 13 year old boy to do that was really wonderful
He had faith in himself
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb
@Ineeddentures That's great that he's getting some attention. He deserves it. In fact they all do.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (35358)
•
3 Feb
@JudyEv
Well
He was featured on our National BBC News just over half an hour ago
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
3 Feb
Oh, how scary. Glad there was a happy ending.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb
I think five minutes before they got rescued a wave washed them apart. They were pretty lucky really.
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb
How awful if one or more had not survived. The mother had just about given up hope. They'd been in the ocean 10 hours.
@RasmaSandra (98129)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Feb
Thta is a great story and such a hero in that boy, Glad they were saved,
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22287)
• United States
3 Feb
I heard of this story. I think that's brave of him to do that.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122313)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Feb
I saw that story on the Microsoft news headlines.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Feb
What a brave boy! And yes, the mother is to be commended for keeping the other children calm.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18202)
• Raurkela, India
3 Feb
They were brave and God helped them out of the crisis.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb
It's a remarkable ending to a story that could have ended very differently.
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
3 Feb
Wow! That's amazing. I couldn't swim 50 feet. And I would be afraid of the sharks. What a brave boy and mother.
1 person likes this
