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Original poster

Amazing young man saves the lives of his mum & siblings

63 replies

CactusSwoonedEnding · 03/02/2026 14:33

Just wanted to share this incredible good news story https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3ezj3rg3o as a brave and determined 13 year old australian swam for 4km to fetch help for his mum and siblings who had been swept out to sea. Everyone survived thanks to him. There's so much negativity and bleakness in the news that it's really worth sharing when things AREN'T a horrible tragedy!

OP posts:
StillFeelingTired · 03/02/2026 14:37

Totally agree. I felt so happy when I read it. Finally something good in a bleak world.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 03/02/2026 15:30

Wow what a tearjerker !!!

canuckup · 03/02/2026 15:30

I saw this, unbelievable

What an absolute champion

fashionqueen0123 · 03/02/2026 15:35

What he did was incredible. Such a brave boy.

And this is why you don’t stop swimming lessons at 25m!

Original poster
CactusSwoonedEnding · 03/02/2026 15:42

fashionqueen0123 · 03/02/2026 15:35

What he did was incredible. Such a brave boy.

And this is why you don’t stop swimming lessons at 25m!

Indeed!

OP posts:
cerbitude · 03/02/2026 15:49

He had just failed his school swimming test …the teacher may want to reconsider!

hereismydog · 03/02/2026 16:00

4km swim (which took him four hours!) and then a 2km run to find a phone. I’m in awe!

Not to mention he would’ve known there were all sorts of bitey, stingy, scary things all around him the whole time 😳 what a top lad!

Disturbia81 · 03/02/2026 16:06

So amazing and heartwarming, a story to tell for his whole life 🖤

Beamur · 03/02/2026 16:12

My DH just told me about this! Amazing kid. His family must be so proud and grateful he did this and didn't come a cropper!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/02/2026 17:01

I just read that story and came to see if anyone had posted it. They were so lucky to survive. What a hero that young lad is.

7238SM · 03/02/2026 17:04

I saw that on the news too, amazing!

Uricon2 · 03/02/2026 20:24

He did an amazing thing and in such waters too. I teared up a bit at him taking his life jacket off because it was slowing him down.

Ohfuckrucksack · 03/02/2026 20:29

One of many many amazing young people in our world.

I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this really difficult feat. He must have been so tired, so scared but he kept going.

Planner2026 · 03/02/2026 20:29

I saw this. What an amazing kid and a wonderful story.

Zov · 03/02/2026 20:38

Gorgeous story! Saw it myself earlier on the news. 😍

Lots of Aussies can swim, as the majority of them (around 80%) live within 10-15 miles of the sea. Lots of water based activities there, and a great love and respect for the sea. So, many of them become strong, confident swimmers.

And yes I agree with a pp, that we shouldn't just teach children to swim 25 metres and leave it at that! We should be teaching them to swim and swim until they can swim at least a mile. (Most children can't even swim a width!)

Chatterlyssecret · 04/02/2026 11:47

The young lad deserves a Gold Medal as big as a dinner plate from the Olympic Swimming organisation.

pinkdelight · 04/02/2026 12:07

It is incredible and thank god it turned out well, but even very strong adult swimmers often drown trying to save others so I don’t agree with the ‘and this is why you need to do more swimming lessons’ take. The take is surely that the mum needed to be way more safety conscious with her kids and the sea. He was heroic but it should never have come to that and they’re all very lucky to have made it. Downer over, as you were.

lemonts · 04/02/2026 13:52

I saw this on the news and there was definitely something off about the whole thing. The mother came across very strangely. I do have slight wonderings as to whether it was some sort if set up with hopes of getting a film deal or something, all very strange.

TikTokker · 04/02/2026 13:55

The mum told him to do it. That was a bold decision

minipie · 04/02/2026 13:58

Bloody hell, well done him!!

And sorry to be pedantic but he’s not a “young man” at 13, he’s a child - which makes it all the more impressive.

massistar · 04/02/2026 14:00

Lucky outcome but my DH trains RNLI Lifeguards and says everything about this goes against all sea safety protocols! It’s a spectacularly long swim for such a young lad. Don’t think I could have sent mine to do it at such a young age and they were strong swimmers who were lifeguard trained. Agree with PP that something smells a bit off.

JonesTown · 04/02/2026 16:10

Funnily enough he is mature enough to swim for four hours in the sea to get help, but Australia wouldn’t consider him old enough to view a Facebook post about it!

Mikabli · 04/02/2026 16:13

massistar · 04/02/2026 14:00

Lucky outcome but my DH trains RNLI Lifeguards and says everything about this goes against all sea safety protocols! It’s a spectacularly long swim for such a young lad. Don’t think I could have sent mine to do it at such a young age and they were strong swimmers who were lifeguard trained. Agree with PP that something smells a bit off.

What would the alternative be in that situation?

Goldfsh · 04/02/2026 16:16

Astonishing story, and him in crutches because his legs are fucked.

He's going to be traumatised for life I imagine. I hope he gets a shed load of support and recognition!

FlorenceAndTheVagine · 04/02/2026 16:24

That mother’s parenting needs to be closely scrutinised by the relevant authorities.