A Tongan man washed away by a tsunami managed to stay afloat for 24 hours before swimming to safety, it has emerged.
It is one of the first stories of survival to come out since Saturday’s massive underground volcano eruption, which severed an underwater cable and cut off communication between the island nation and the rest of the world.
It comes as the first foreign aid plane has arrived in Tonga, carrying much-needed water and supplies for the Pacific nation.
Lisala Folau, a retired disabled carpenter, told Tongan radio station Broadcom FM that he swam and floated from his island of Atata via two other uninhabited islands to eventually reach the main island of Tongatapu, a total distance of around eight miles.
Mr Folau said he had been painting his home on Saturday when he was alerted about the tsunami.
He said: “My elder brother and a nephew came to my assistance, this time the wave has gone through our lounge, we moved to another part of the house when a bigger wave, this wave I would estimate was about not less than six metres, [arrived].”
“Bear in mind that I am disabled. I can’t walk properly … and when I can, I believe a baby can walk faster than I,” he continued.
“We hid to the eastern side of the house, the waves were coming from the west so we escaped that wave.”
He said they climbed a tree with his niece while his brother ran to seek help. When there was a lull in the waves, they climbed down but just then a larger wave hit.
Having nothing to hold onto, he was swept out to sea with his niece at around 7pm.
“We floated at sea, just calling out to each other. It was dark and we could not see each other. Very soon I could not her my niece calling anymore but I could hear my son calling.”
Mr Folau said that in that moment, he made the difficult decision to not answer his son, fearing he would risk his life to try and save him.
“The truth is no son can abandon his father. But for me, as a father I kept my silence for if I answered him he would jump in and try to rescue me. But I understand the tough situation and I thought if the worst comes and it is only me.”
He said he decided that if he clung to a tree trunk, his family would at least be able to find his body if he died.
“I floated and was grounded to the east of the island of Toketoke.”
On Sunday morning, he said he saw a police patrol boat heading to Atata island. He tried to flag it down but they did not see him.
He then swam to the island of Polo’a, setting off at about 10am and landing at around 6pm on Sunday.
“I called and yelled for help but there was no one there. My mind was now on my niece that we were washed away together and now I have survived.”
Mr Folau said he then focused on his next move. “I was now strong-minded that I could make it to mui’i Sopu.” Sopu is on the western edge of the capital Nuku’alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu.
At around 9pm, Mr Folau said he staggered towards a house in Sopu, eventually arriving at the end of a tar sealed public road and was picked up by a passing vehicle and taken to the driver’s home.
It is not clear what happened to Mr Folau’s son and the niece he was with in Atata.
Three people have been confirmed to have died following the tsunami, including British animal charity worker, Angela Glover.
No fatalities were from Atata.
Another son, Talivakaola Folau wrote on Facebook: “A story I’ll never forget in my life … While talking with family in Tonga my tears continued to fall when I think of my Dad swimming around in the ocean after the tsunami hit … My heart is broken imagining you drinking in the seawater Dad, but you’re a strong-willed man.”
The story has gone viral on social media since a transcript of the interview was first shared by Tongan journalist Marian Kupu.
Aid reaches stricken island
New Zealand said its military plane had landed at Tonga’s main airport on Thursday, after workers were able to clear ash which was blocking the runway.
Other planes and ships sent by New Zealand and Australia are on the way.
It is thought the volcanic dust and sea water have contaminated Tonga’s water supplies.
A thick layer of ash had covered the airport runway in the capital Nuku’alofa, preventing planes from landing.
For days rescue teams and 200 hundred volunteers desperately worked to clear the tarmac using wheelbarrows and shovels, in what New Zealand’s commander of joint forces Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour described as a “mammoth effort”.
Their C-130 Hercules plane were able to touch down in Tonga just after 4pm local time on Thursday.
It was loaded with water containers, temporary shelter kits, electricity generators, hygiene and family kits and communications equipment.
It comes amid fears of a possible humanitarian crisis developing, with the office of prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni saying on Tuesday that every home on Mango island, where around 50 people live, had been destroyed, while only two houses remained on Fonoifua, and Namuka island had suffered extensive damage.
The extent of the damage is still relatively unknown.
