Family outing turns into tragedy at Laulea Beach [1]
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 11:46. Updated on Friday, May 2, 2014 - 15:14.
A 37-year-old Catholic priest, Father Mikaele Mateo, died at Laulea Beach on the eastern coast of Tongatapu on Sunday afternoon, January 15 while helping to rescue his five young nephews who were swept out to open sea by strong currents.
The Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said that the priest was at the beach having lunch with family members when the tragedy occurred.
He said medical authorities at Vaiola Hospital confirmed the cause of death was drowning and there were no suspicious circumstances.
Swept out to sea
Family members told Matangi Tonga that Father Mikaele Mateo went out to the beach with his brothers and their children for their Sunday lunch. Some of the children were out swimming when they were swept out to sea by the strong currents.
Father Mikaele Mateo from Ma'ufanga is the parish priest at Lapaha, in eastern Tongatapu.
He and his brothers went into the water to rescue the children who were around 10 years old. They rescued the children, but Father Mikaele was having problems with the strong current and drowned, said a family member.
Father Mateo's body was retrieved from the sea by fishermen and divers from the village of Fatumu.
His funeral will be held later this week at Lapaha.