A whole day in the water
Washed away by tsunami and rescued after 27 hours – Tonga celebrates its “Aquaman”
The photo shows destruction in the capital of Tonga, Nukuʻalofa. In total, the kingdom consists of more than 170 islands, many of which are uninhabited
© Guo Lei / Picture Alliance
The first news after the eruption of a submarine volcano comes from Tonga. One of them is the story of a man who can hardly walk – but apparently swims very well.
Tonga is slowly recovering from the effects of an undersea volcano eruption. The first news from the Polynesian kingdom after the outbreak last weekend is also reaching the world again. One is the survival story of a 57-year-old man who was swept away by a tsunami – and reportedly floated at sea for more than a full day before he was able to save himself.
A hero on the islands belonging to Tonga, Lisala Folau told his story to a national radio station. The subsequent echo on social media made the pensioner known worldwide, who says of himself: “I can’t walk properly. And if I walk, a baby will probably even pass me”.
Man lives on a small island belonging to Tonga
The remarkable survival story of the man, who used to work as a carpenter, reportedly began quite harmlessly last Saturday: he was just painting his house when his brother warned him of a tsunami, he reported on the radio. His home is the remote island of Atata, which is home to around 60 people.
He and his family first sought shelter in a part of their house where the water hadn’t spilled in. Then he and his niece climbed a tree to be protected from the high waves. His brother tried to get help.
When the waves seemed to die down, they climbed down from the tree. A mistake, as was to be seen immediately, because the two could no longer hold on and were washed away when a larger wave rolled in, as Lisala Folau described in detail. His niece called out in distress, but some time later he didn’t hear her anymore. The reports do not indicate whether she survived or whether she is one of three people who have since been confirmed dead after the tsunami.
Tsunami washed him away – he could still hear his son calling
Floating in the water, Lisala Folau heard his son calling for him. But he decided to remain silent for fear that his son might try to save him and put his life in danger. At that moment he thought that if he at least managed to hold on to a tree trunk, his family would at least find his body later.
But his will to survive would prove stronger. According to reports from several media outlets, he was slowly swimming, although they were not able to verify what had happened themselves.
The distance he swam in total is said to have been about 13 kilometers. When he saw a police boat, he was hopeful, but no one noticed. The next evening around 9 p.m. he finally reached the main island of Tongatapu and made it onto a paved road there. A car finally picked him up – the happy end of a sheer inhuman odyssey.
In Tonga, Lisala Folau is celebrated as a hero. The “Guardian”, which reported, among other things, on the story of his rescue, asked a swimming expert about his performance. According to the expert, this is impressive even by Olympic standards. The 57-year-old has lost his nickname in his home country: he is now known there as the “real Aquaman”.
Sources: “The Guardians“, “Reuters“, “T-Online“
Watch the video: After the eruption of a volcano in the Pacific, New Zealand and Australian naval ships are on their way to Tonga with relief supplies and experts. The full extent of the natural disaster is not yet clear.