A 30-year-old year old Indonesian fisherman drowned on Friday night, September 30 after falling into the sea at Tu’imatamoana Wharf at Ma’ufanga in Tongatapu.

Chief Superintendent Tevita Fifita said today the victim was a fisherman for the Yushun, a Chinese owned fishing vessel, and that he was on board with another person on Friday night.

"It is alleged that he had been drinking alcohol. At one point he was on Yushun and was reported to have gotten off the vessel onto the wharf, with the intention to hop onto a neighbouring fishing vessel and join some of his fellow fishermen who were onboard." It was anchored at the wharf area near the flea market.

Fifita said it is alleged that close to 11:00pm the man fell into the sea. The others reportedly heard the splash and ran out to see but the man had disappeared underwater.

Police were called to the scene and a diver went down to try and recover his body but could not see anything nor locate him. The diving search continued on Saturday morning 1 October and the victim’s body was found at around 11:00am, just near the area where he fell.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body is at Vaiola mortuary and we are still waiting on the doctor’s report," said Fifita.