A 10-year-old boy died on Friday afternoon, November 11 after drowning at an inland lagoon known as Vai Salisali, at Sopu, according to the Tonga Police.

The Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau, reported that the boy was from Vava'u, but lived at the village of Hofoa in Tongatapu.

He said police investigations found that the boy, after school, followed other boys from his primary school to swim at the area. The boys did not know that the victim could not swim, and only saw him as he struggled to stay afloat and drowned.

He said an inquest, carried out at Vaiola Hospital on November 12, concluded that the cause of death was drowning. There was no criminal or negligent act associated with the boy's death, he said.

This is the third death from drowning in Tonga this year. In 2010 there were six deaths from drowning.

Crimes

Meanwhile crimes in Tonga stood at 62 offences from November 7-13, a slight drop from the 69 offences reported the previous week.

Housebreaking was the most reported crimes with 19 offences, followed by 15 thefts, eight assaults and embezzlements.