Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’ ever made

What have I done?' thought Joanne Appelbee as she waited for rescue with two other children in rough seas off Western Australia

Joanne Appelbee says asking her 13-year-old son Austin to swim four hours through dangerous waters to get help after her family was swept out to sea was one of the hardest decisions" she has ever made.

I knew he was the strongest and he could do it," she told the ABC. I would have never went because I wouldn't have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody."