Monaghan grandmother shares pride after grandson swam four hours to save family

Louise Walsh

A Co Monaghan grandmother said her family would be seeing her daughter and grandchildren 'one way or another' after they were involved in a last-ditch rescue in Western Australia.

Doreen Cunningham believes her daughter Joanne Appelbee and grandchildren Beau (12) and Grace (eight) would not have survived another 30 minutes but for the amazing feat of grandchild Austin (13), who swam for four hours and ran another two kilometres to get help to save his family.

Joanne and her three children had been holidaying when rough waves and wind conditions swept their kayaks and paddle boards out to sea.

Doreen (80) who lives in Magheracloone, Carrickmacross, with her husband Patrick said they were awake since they got the news last Saturday.

"I haven't slept since Saturday when Joanne left the hospital and rang me to tell me the story," she said.

"Loads of things were going through my head. I was picturing myself in that situation and wondering what I'd do. Thank God, they got saved.

"Austin is a very quiet and good child and he offered to go for help. He kept telling his mother that he would make it and get them all help."

She said that Austin was trying to paddle using his hands but the waves kept pushing him back and he was getting nowhere.

He then started swimming, first pulling his life jacket partly off him to aid his swimming and then he removed it altogether as he felt it was slowing him down.

"I'm so proud of them all. I last saw them when I visited Australia in November two years ago and I'll be seeing them again soon one way or another, whether they come to Ireland or we go out to see them."

"They are all heroes."

Doreen has four children, two sons who live in Monaghan and Meath and another girl who lives in west Cork. "Both my daughters went west," she laughed.

Joanne has lived in Australia for 22 years with the three children and her husband Justin.

Doreen said lessons have to be learned in the aftermath of the rescue.

"These crafts should have some sort of emergency button or way to raise the alarm if needed. There definitely should've been something to help them be rescued faster.

"We are all relieved, happy and annoyed at the same time here."

Meanwhile, former English teacher of Joanne's at St Louis post-primary school in Carrickmacross, Art Agnew said, "I remember that if Joanne had a mission, she would see it through."