A 38-year-old woman from Ma'ufanga drowned at Keleti Beach, Veitongo on Saturday afternoon, March 17.

Police said today the tragic incident took place at around 2:00pm, when the victim, her three young children and two friends were on a picnic at the beach.

She had a drink with her friends before she went swimming. Eyewitnesses reported they noticed her disappeared then they saw her body floating.

They went in and rescued her but it was too late, she had drowned.

Police have not released the victim’s name yet as her body remains at Vaiola Hospital for an inquest to be held this week.

This is the first drowning death in Tonga this year.