A second drowning death of a fisherman off Tongatapu was reported by the Tonga Police this afternoon.

The body of a 22 year old fisherman from Patangata was found on the reef today by other fishermen returning from Pangaimotu Island.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Taniela Faletau said that the man had left Patangata at about 9:00am and gone out looking for shellfish in the area between Patangata and Pangaimotu with the low tide. The man was walking on the reef with a floating tyre attached to him to collect the shells.

"The other fisherman were returning around 12:00 and found the tyre floating without the chap in about one meter of water. Then they found the body on the sea floor and the tyre was still tied to his body."

 Taniela said that an inquest this afternoon had determined the cause of death was drowning and that there were no suspicious circumstances.