The body of man who fell to his death off a cliff on Tofua Island in Ha'apai, was recovered on Saturday.

Tonga Police at Ha’apai on Saturday, 27 January 2024, received a report of a 44-year-old male from Fatai, Tongatapu, who had fallen off the cliff of Tofua, a volcanic island at Ha’apai. The man had not survived.

Police stated today that the deceased had  been staying for over a decade at Tofua island, planting kava crops.

“On the day of the tragedy, a witness said that the deceased heard someone calling from below the cliff that he went to check. Unfortunately, he accidentally fell off.

“A call for assistance to the Town Officer of Kotu was made around dawn of Saturday, 27 January, through a VHF radio transmitter, which was received by the Town Officer of Matuku, who relayed the message via mobile phone to the Town Officer of Kotu. Three men were then sent to Tofua island to assist.

“At around 1:00 pm, Saturday, 27 January, the three men returned to Kotu with the deceased’s body, which was then further transported to Ha’afeva to be examined by a medical doctor. Due to the state that the deceased’s body was in and the bad weather conditions, the doctor and the Ha’afeva District Officer decided that it was best to bury the deceased immediately.”

Tonga Police are investigating the incident and will report to the formal inquest.