Family told today, Tongan fisheries observer died from acute cardiac event [1]
Friday, January 7, 2022 - 23:24. Updated on Friday, January 7, 2022 - 23:42.
By Pesi Fonua
Three months after a Tongan fisheries observer, Arnold Latu (37), was found dead on the fishing vessel Hsinlong I, in Tongan waters, on 27 September 2021, his mother today finally received the autopsy report that may help to bring some closure to the family who were puzzled by his death.
The autopsy released by Vaiola Hospital to his mother, concludes that Arnold died of an acute cardiac event and that there was no evidence to suggest foul play.
The long awaited autopsy report helps to clarify a mystery that has garnered international attention this week.
On January 3, the Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom reported [2] that Arnold Latu, who was found dead in his berth, was one of numerous deaths of monitors who ensure fishing boats follow the rules. Interested organisations queried why Tongan authorities had not revealed the cause of death.
Matangi Tonga confirmed this morning that the results of the official investigation had not been released by the office of the Police Commissioner, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Fisheries.
Then, later this afternoon, the mother of Arnold, Menitela Kaufusi, offered to share the information that she had just received from the Ministry of Health.
Menitela, who lives at Kolofo'ou, said that since her adoptive son's unexpected death on the Hsinlong I in September, the family had held onto many unanswered questions and concerns.
“He was a healthy boy,” she said.
The mystery had intensified when she went to the Tu'imatamoana Wharf, after the Hsinlong I berthed on that day, and the family were kept waiting for many hours to transfer Arnold from the vessel to the mortuary at Vaiola Hospital.
When they finally were able to view the body, they felt the position of his head was “not comfortable”.
The autopsy dated Oct. 13, 2021, states that the case was referred by police for post mortem, since the doctor at the Vaiola A&E could not determine the cause of death.
“There was no significant medical history to indicate that deceased had suffered from a chronic medical condition.”
Xrays were done at Vaiola on the deceased on Oct. 4, 2021, when: “A report by Radiologist suggested possible hyoid bone fracture with further recommendation for a post mortem to be done.”
The autopsy was delayed because the pathologist was away on duty tour to the outer islands.
The post mortem found no significant injury or bruises and no hyoid fracture found.
However, the pathologist reported that the only significant finding was that “the heart was grossly enlarged with concentric hypertrophy of left ventricle.”
“There was no evidence of injury to the head, neck, chest and abdomen, to suggest foul plan.”
The Pathologist said that concentric hypertrophy could either be caused by hypertension or cardiomyopathy. “Both conditions can make one prone to an acute myocardial infarction or irregular heart beat. Either of these two conditions can easily cause fatality.”
“I believe that this death was caused by an acute cardiac event as noted above,” concluded Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola (MBBS, DCP), the CEO for the Ministry of Health.
International interest
Arnold Latu was the monitoring officer of the Chinese-owned, Fiji-flagged vessel, employed by the Tongan government to check that the amount of fish caught on its voyage was legal and correctly recorded. At the end of a two months long fishing trip the Hsinlong I was anchored close to Pangaimotu Island, waiting for permission to berth at the Tu'imatamoana fishing wharf in Nuku'alofa.
Nuku'alofa journalist, Iliesa Tora, reported in the Guardian newspaper that one of crew-members had gone to call Latu for breakfast and found him dead on his bed. Crew members alerted the ship's captain and Tonga Police were contacted.
However, over three months later, “Despite calls from non-government organisations like WWF and the Association of Professional Observers (APO) the cause of death and results of the postmortem examination have not been revealed by authorities”.
Dr Tuikolongahau Halafisi CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries told the Guardian this week that they were not able to release any information because the case was being investigated by the police.
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See also:
“It’s a mystery for us’: the puzzling death at sea of a Tongan fisheries observer” [2]