A teenage boy in Australia who swam for four hours to save his stranded family has received a commendation from President Catherine Connolly.
Austin Appelbee, was with his Co Monaghan mother Joanne, and his younger siblings, when they were swept 4km out to sea while they were kayaking and paddle boarding off the southwest coast of Australia, south of Perth.
Joanne is originally from just outside Carrickmacross.
Kevin Boxer Moran said he was honoured and privileged to meet Austin Appelbee, the 13-year-old Australian boy who swam for hours to get help for his family after they were swept out to sea.
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“I met with Austin and his mother, Joanne, brother Beau and sister Grace - an amazing story and a young hero to be extremely proud of.”
