The body of Mailangi Vea (45) of Fungamisi was recovered on July 3 on the north west shore of Late Island in Vava’u, after he was swept to sea when his dingy capsized on Saturday at around 2:30pm off Late Is.

A Search and Recovery team headed by police from Vava’u and Ha’apai recovered the body at around 3:00pm on Sunday.

Police in Nuku'alofa said this morning that an inquest held yesterday, Monday 4 July determined that he had died from drowning.

Police said Mailangi Vea was hired by Digicel Tonga to bring back eight of their people who were working on Late Island.

He went on his 28ft boat 'Ilena to pick them up together with three other crew members.

When they got to the area, they lowered the dingy from the boat because they could not anchor at Late. Vea and another man got into the dingy with the boat's rope to be tied to shore. While making their way to shore the boat's rope broke and they continued and got safely on land where the man got off.

Vea then tried to return to the boat so he could fix the rope, but about 10-15 metres from Late's shore his dingy was hit by a wave causing it to capsize. Eyewitnesses told police the sea was rough but they saw Vea emerging from the water and he swam to a nearby rock. He managed to get up on the rock only to be swept into the sea by another wave, and he was not seen again.

Search and rescue

Police coordinated the search, and rescued the rest of Vea’s three crew and the eight Digicel workers, with the help of a local yachts that towed back his boat ‘Ilena’ to Neiafu on 2 July. They were assisted by a helicopter operated by Digicel.

Vava’u District Commander Superintendent Falakiseni today acknowledged the assistance of Digicel Tonga and its helicopter crew, as well as the yachts Tricker, Tavake and Phoenix. who assisted in the rescue and return of 'Ilena to Neiafu on Saturday night saving the 11 lives.

Others who assisted in the search was Beluga Diving's boat Gladiator and five local divers from Neiafu.