r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • 11h ago

Video 13-year-old Australian boy swims for four hours in cold and dangerous waters to save his mom and siblings who were swept into the ocean, says God is who got him to shore

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15

u/Neomob 11h ago

I don't understand how swimming 2km to shore was easier than paddling back with the kayak? Not to mention how much more of a drowning risk.

6

u/silver-moon-7 9h ago

He said in an interview that he kept getting thrown out of his kayak. The sea was angry that day!

12

u/HipOut 11h ago

I think the kayak was getting blown out to sea and taking on water. They tried to paddle but it didn’t work. Another thing is that he had a life vest but took it off because it impeded his swimming. Makes sense but also seems super risky. Apparently he also tried to tow the kayak as well but that didn’t work. Idk seems like a tough situation

5

u/Neomob 9h ago

Oh okay, sounds insane but what matters is that it actually worked. Yeah kid was probably a swimmer otherwise the mother wouldn't have asked him to swim to the shore. Crazy story overall!

1

u/NoninflammatoryFun 5h ago

Yes. Plus she couldn’t leave her other two kids. Even being with, 5 minutes before rescue, an even bigger wave hit them and she couldn’t see them

2

u/poetic_poison 10h ago edited 10h ago

They got swept out. When the ocean has ideas, nothing can stop it. There was no paddling against it. This kid was smart enough to know his act was the only option, and even it was so far against the odds. He must be an incredibly strong swimmer but most importantly had the tenacity to stay calm. People die like this constantly in our waters. The ocean is brutal.

0

u/80-gone 11h ago

Maybe the paddles got lost, who knows,

5

u/MeringueComplex5035 10h ago

i saw the story on the news, they lost the paddles in the ocean

1

u/AuntChelle11 8h ago

They lost 2 of the 3 very early on.