Page 3 | Amazing young man saves the lives of his mum & siblings

CactusSwoonedEnding · 2026-02-03T14:33:08+00:00

Just wanted to share this incredible good news story [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3ezj3rg3o 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!

massistar · 05/02/2026 13:26

agree @Helpel. I’ve seen tri athletes getting pulled out of the sea onto rescue boards because they’ve only ever swam in a pool. It’s really hard swimming in the sea even for good swimmers!

Glitterella · 05/02/2026 13:34

I agree with other posters that something just doesn’t seem right here. I’m not sure we will ever find out though.

Much like the story of little Gus Lamont who disappeared in the outback from his grandparents house. Seems like someone is now under suspicion…

A fair amount of crazy stories coming from Oz recently including the dingo death.

marcyhermit · 05/02/2026 13:42

ElizabethsTailor · 05/02/2026 08:54

Surely, once they were in that situation, she only had 3 choices.

All stay together - probably die because no help is coming
Leave all three children together and try to make it to shore - probably children die alone because she was already having to help the younger ones stay afloat
Send eldest for help in kayak and stay with younger children - best chance of one or both groups surviving (which is what happened).

Looks to me like she made a very difficult decision, but the right one.

I agree that she made big mistakes for them to be in that situation in the first place, but people do make mistakes.

I also agree her reaction seems a bit off, but I imagine she is also feeling quite traumatised after her own experience. Yes, her children had a traumatic time, and of course it’s right that they are the focus, but it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for her. I expect she is masking and just trying to get through all the attention on them until she can emotionally collapse and start to process it.

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I agree, she obviously made a huge mistake to allow them to be swept out to sea in the first place but once that had happened she didn't have much choice.

When she decided to send the oldest back in the kayak it apparently looked like they were a lot closer to shore than they actually were.

I've only ever let my kids kayak/paddleboard in lakes and canals because I'm too scared of the sea.

NotDarkGothicMama · 05/02/2026 13:45

He not only swam 4km, he then ran 2km to get to a phone. Absolutely heroic.

Then you have these kids fighting until they fall out of a bus top window 🙄

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdygw411e0o

A screenshot image of two young boys dressed in dark school uniform falling from a window.

School pupils fall through a top deck bus window in Walsall

A voice can be heard shouting "oh no" as the pupils fall against a window at the back of the bus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdygw411e0o

LayaM · 05/02/2026 13:54

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.

I think it's misguided to judge an emotional reaction in circumstances like this. We see this problem a lot across lots of different issues - rape victims not showing appropriate emotion, Amanda Knox and so on. People who have been through trauma often don't react like we think we would or like we think they should.

That's not to say she wasn't very stupid to get them into that position, or that she's mother of the year, but I think a leap to her having set it all up just because she seems a bit cold is a step too far.

lemonts · 05/02/2026 16:04

LayaM · 05/02/2026 13:54

I think it's misguided to judge an emotional reaction in circumstances like this. We see this problem a lot across lots of different issues - rape victims not showing appropriate emotion, Amanda Knox and so on. People who have been through trauma often don't react like we think we would or like we think they should.

That's not to say she wasn't very stupid to get them into that position, or that she's mother of the year, but I think a leap to her having set it all up just because she seems a bit cold is a step too far.

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She put me in mind of Shannon Matthews mother in terms of the whole dynamic of all of them not just the mother

Annonymiss123 · 05/02/2026 16:50

Twinkletwinkly · 04/02/2026 17:50

I read a report from an Irish news site. The boy’s grandmother is Irish. She states the mum didn’t send him swimming back for help and the lad decided to go anyway. I’ll try post the link.

Irish grandmother of boy (13) who saved his mother and siblings' lives in Australia 'very proud'

I saw the mother interviewed - she said that she had sent the young lad off to get help(!!). I don't know why the grandmother is saying different.

I agree about the mother - I thought she was acting very strangely in the interviews.

Cankerousa · 05/02/2026 16:53

What kind of mother would send her son to do that?!

Sorry, this is all kinds of wrong and I cant feel bubbly and warm about it. This is a young boy having to take risks to correct his mothers piss poor parenting and judgement.

I wonder what other adult responsibilities he is having to take on.

Tulipsriver · 05/02/2026 16:56

I must be weird but I didn't read this as a good news story, more a stark warning of why we should be wary of the sea/disasters can so easily happen even on a fun day.

The poor kid was undoubtedly brave, but he looks traumatised by the ordeal. Imagine how scared he must have felt (not to mention the worry of sharks!).

His mum must be so relieved, and I'm not sure what else she could have done... but as a parent I don't think I'd ever get over choosing to send one child off like that. Especially when the age gap between him and the next youngest was fairly small. I think I could accept choosing to send a 13 year old over say a 5 year old, but not a 13 year old over an 11 year old. There's two years between my children and the thought makes my blood run cold.

deeahgwitch · 05/02/2026 16:57

What a decision to have to make.
Send her eldest off to get help with the gnawing worry he might not make it. OMG.

marcyhermit · 05/02/2026 17:07

Cankerousa · 05/02/2026 16:53

What kind of mother would send her son to do that?!

Sorry, this is all kinds of wrong and I cant feel bubbly and warm about it. This is a young boy having to take risks to correct his mothers piss poor parenting and judgement.

I wonder what other adult responsibilities he is having to take on.

Edited

She didn't really have another choice at that point though.

TartanMammy · 05/02/2026 17:30

That boy is a legend, amazing what he's done ,but I'm sure he and his family will be traumatised after this.

The mother very stupid for getting them in that situation in the first place.

maudelovesharold · 05/02/2026 19:23

LayaM · 05/02/2026 13:54

I think it's misguided to judge an emotional reaction in circumstances like this. We see this problem a lot across lots of different issues - rape victims not showing appropriate emotion, Amanda Knox and so on. People who have been through trauma often don't react like we think we would or like we think they should.

That's not to say she wasn't very stupid to get them into that position, or that she's mother of the year, but I think a leap to her having set it all up just because she seems a bit cold is a step too far.

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I didn’t particularly think it was a set up, and I know not all people react to trauma in a ‘textbook’ way, but the whole dynamic of the family was odd. You’d think that once she knew her boy had succeeded in his Herculean effort to save his family, and survived, she’d want to hold him and never let him go, but in none of the interview or news footage did I see her do as much as put her arm round him, let alone shower effusive praise on him. Ok, that may not be her style, but her son looked so sad. It just seemed ‘off’…what else can I say?