United News of Bangladesh

A 13-year-old boy has been widely praised for his courage after swimming for hours through rough seas to get help for his mother and two siblings who were swept out to sea off the coast of Western Australia. Police said the family were paddle boarding and kayaking in Geographe Bay on Friday when strong winds blew their inflatables off course. As conditions worsened, the teenager set off toward shore to raise the alarm, but his kayak began taking on water, forcing him to swim the rest of the way. Read More: 145 pilot whales die in stranding on New Zealand beach The boy swam about 4km to reach land and alert authorities, triggering a large-scale search by marine rescue teams. He managed to raise the alarm by 6:00pm local time, reports BBC. Rescue crews later found the boy’s 47-year-old mother, his 12-year-old brother and eight-year-old sister clinging to a paddleboard roughly 14km offshore. A rescue helicopter located them around 8:30pm, and a volunteer marine rescue vessel brought them safely back to shore. Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group commander Paul Bresland described the teenager’s effort as “superhuman”, noting that he swam for hours in difficult conditions. Police and rescue officials said the family’s use of life jackets played a crucial role in their survival. Inspector James Bradley said the incident showed how quickly ocean conditions can change and praised the boy’s determination and bravery, saying his actions ultimately saved the lives of his family members. The family were checked by paramedics and taken to hospital as a precaution before being discharged. They later returned to thank the volunteer marine rescue crew for their efforts. Read More: Rush-hour storm floods New York City area, swamping streets and stranding people in traffic