A 22-year-old man drowned at sea in Tungua, Ha’apai on Saturday, 29 April, the first drowning recorded this year in Tonga.

The man was swimming back to shore after helping other people get on a fishing boat that was anchored at sea.

"The cause of death was drowning," a police spokesperson confirmed today.

At around 8:00am the man was helping other fishermen fetch a fishing boat anchored at sea. The fishermen got on the boat, while he decided to swim back to land. It was reported that when they looked back he had disappeared. They then turned around to search for him. His body was found washed up on shore a few hours later, she said.