Australian boy, 13, saves his family with four-hour swim to shore

Austin Appelbee saved his family (ABC via AP)

A 13-year-old boy has been credited with saving the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with a four-hour swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast.

Austin Appelbee swam 4km (2.5 miles) to shore to raise the alarm after he got into difficulties on Friday with his mother, Joanne Appelbee, 47, brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, eight, police said.