Learning from Austin Appelbee: 13-year-old swimmer to save family

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We often look for heroes, who not only do heroic acts, but those who do them with such grandeur.  

Perhaps, we are all guilty of being hang up on the superheroes we have grown attached to since childhood. I mean the likes of Superman as Man of Steel, Batman, Iron Man and Wonder Woman.

But there is a new superhero on the block, Australian 13-year-old Austin Appelbee, who swam across the Indian Ocean to save his mother, little brother and sister. The family had gone kayaking when the waves chopped and flipped their kayak.

His mother told him to get help and thus, he swam for four hours.

Australian reports quoted him saying that he sawm for two hours and then ditched his lifejacket to swim faster.

He told them that he even changed strokes thrice: breaststroke, freestyle and survival backstroke.

A word with Cathy Nakimuli, a swimming coach, explains the advantages of each strokes below:

Breaststroke:

•  Energy efficient: It uses a steady rhythm and allows brief glides, which conserves energy over long distances.
• Good visibility: Your head can stay above water, making it easier to sight the shoreline, avoid obstacles, or time waves.
• Stable and controlled: Very useful in rough water or when you need to slow down and recover without stopping.

“In short, breaststroke is excellent for endurance and navigation,” she says.

Freestyle (Front Crawl)

•  Fastest stroke: When conditions allow, freestyle lets you cover more distance in less time.
• Powerful propulsion: Strong arm pulls and kicks help push through currents or waves.
• Momentum builder: Ideal for short bursts when you need to make progress quickly or escape a difficult patch of water.

“Freestyle is best for speed and fighting currents, but it’s tiring if used nonstop,” says Nakimuli.

Survival Backstroke

• Maximum rest: It allows relaxed breathing and minimal energy use.
• Airway safety: Face stays out of the water, reducing the risk of swallowing water when tired.
• Recovery stroke: Perfect for catching your breath, calming the body, and preventing panic.

“Survival backstroke keeps you alive and functional when exhaustion sets in,” she says.

Nakimuli explains that by alternating between these strokes, Appelbee could: manage fatigue (breaststroke), maintain direction (survival breaststroke for sighting) and make decisive progress (freestyle when strength allowed).

“That kind of adaptability is exactly what makes the difference in real survival situations. It’s not about swimming perfectly, it’s about swimming smart,” she says.