Teen's Heroic Swim Saves Family Stranded at Sea

A boy is a hero after an epic swim to save his family.

Austin Appelbee, 13, and his family were kayaking and paddleboarding in Australia.

They were in shallow water, but the wind pushed them four kilometres away from land.

It was getting dark.

Austin tried to kayak to shore, but the waves flipped his boat over.

He knew he was in trouble.

He said he had no choice but to swim to land to raise the alarm.

He swam through shark-frequented waters.

Austin got to the beach and phoned for help.

Coastguards found and rescued the boy's mother and two younger sisters.

The boy said: "I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed.…I had to sprint two kilometres to get to the phone."

Rescuers called him "superhuman".

One rescuer could not praise him highly enough.

He said Austin's determination and courage saved the lives of his family.

Austin's mother called the experience a "nightmare".