A 13-year-old boy swam for four hours in cold and choppy waters to save his mother and two younger siblings who had been swept out to sea off the coast of Western Australia. The family, from the state capital Perth, were using kayaks and paddleboards on Friday morning when rough ocean and wind conditions started dragging them out. Teenager Austin Appelbee swam about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to shore to raise the alarm, police said.

A 13-year-old boy is credited with saving the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with an hourslong swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast. Austin Appelbee swam 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to shore to raise the alarm after he got into difficulties on Friday with his mother Joanne Appelbee, 47, brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, 8, police said. Austin said he initially set off for help on an inflatable kayak that was taking water.

A 13-year-old boy is credited with saving his family after they were swept out to sea off the Australian coast.

Teen hero swims 2.5 miles through rough seas to save family swept away by winds off Australia. Police praised the 13-year-old boy's courage.

A search helicopter found the mom and two children wearing life jackets and clinging to a paddleboard at 8:30 p.m.

A 13-year-old boy is credited with saving his family after they were swept out to sea off the Australian coast.