Work Safety Watchdog Investigates After Family's Harrowing Ocean Rescue in Western Australia
WorkSafe WA has initiated preliminary enquiries into a distressing incident where a family on holiday was swept out to sea from Geographe Bay, leading to a dramatic rescue operation. The Appelbee family, staying at a resort in Quindalup approximately 200 kilometres south of Perth, found themselves in peril when strong offshore winds pushed their hired kayak and inflatable paddleboards far from the coastline on Friday afternoon.
Teenager's Heroic Four-Hour Swim to Shore
Faced with a life-threatening situation, Joanne Appelbee, the children's mother, made what she described as "one of the hardest decisions" of her life. She instructed her 13-year-old son, Austin, to attempt a swim to shore to alert emergency services. In an extraordinary display of courage and endurance, Austin swam for four hours through tumultuous waters, covering a distance of around four kilometres to reach safety.
Upon making it to shore, the teenager immediately notified authorities, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation. His mother, along with his 12-year-old brother Beau and eight-year-old sister Grace, were located later that evening at approximately 8:30 pm. They were found drifting in the ocean, clinging to a paddleboard about 14 kilometres offshore, and were subsequently rescued unharmed.
Safety Reviews and Official Enquiries Underway
A spokesperson for WorkSafe WA confirmed on Thursday that the regulator was aware of the incident and is currently making initial enquiries, although they had not been formally notified. Simultaneously, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) stated it had been alerted and is also conducting its own inquiries into the matter.
The Club Wyndham Resort, where the family was staying, issued a statement denying any wrongdoing. A spokesperson emphasised that guests are free to use resort equipment on a complimentary basis and that staff had no reason for alarm. They noted that the beach is unpatrolled, outside resort grounds, and not directly visible from the property.
"However, as a matter of course, the resort is conducting a safety review to minimise the risk of any similar incident occurring in the future," the spokesperson added. The resort has not provided further comment to media requests.
Experts Warn of Hidden Dangers in Calm Seas
Beach safety experts have used the incident to highlight significant and often misunderstood hazards associated with ocean conditions. Professor Rob Brander from the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group explained that calm water near the coastline can be dangerously deceptive.
"People often assume it's safe to go into the ocean when it is calm and there are no breaking waves," he said. "That is a problematic assumption, considering one of the main reasons why water close to the coastline is calm is from strong offshore winds. It's literally blowing the ocean surface flat and creating small waves that are moving offshore. This can create a surface drift that can take you a long way offshore."
Chris Peck, General Manager of Surf Life Saving WA, concurred, stressing that "you don't need waves, swell and rips for it to be a hazardous situation." He expressed relief that the family was "still alive and together" but emphasised the critical importance of beach safety awareness.
Specific Warnings About Inflatable Watercraft
Professor Brander issued a particularly stern warning regarding the use of inflatable watercraft in ocean environments. "It's like putting up a sail," he cautioned. "The problem is inflatables stick above the surface of the water, and the wind just grabs that, especially if you're standing or kneeling, you're the sail."
He advised beachgoers to take a few minutes to consider safety before entering the water, including planning what to do if something goes wrong and knowing who to contact. Chris Peck echoed this sentiment, urging people to recognise the stark difference between using inflatables in a controlled pool versus the dynamic ocean.
"The ocean is the most dynamic environment you can enter, because it changes every second," Peck stated. "Just because it's flat and it looks clear in the water and the sun's out, doesn't mean that the wind's not blowing offshore and you won't get pushed out."
Both experts strongly recommended that beachgoers seek out patrolled beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards are present. Their overarching message was clear: if you are in any doubt about the conditions, do not enter the water.
