The death of a Ha'apai sea cucumber diver this morning was the third death of a fisherman in Tonga in the last six days.

The unidentified man is believed to have suffered from decompression after diving for sea cucumbers in Tungua yesterday, and he died while being rushed on a boat from Ha'apai to Tongatapu, the Tonga Police reported today.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police 'Unga Fa'aoa said that although the cause of death had not been confirmed, the doctor who examined the victim in Ha'afeva reported that he showed symptoms of decompression caused by using gas cylinders in diving.

He said that information from police in Ha'apai stated that the victim went diving for sea cucumbers on Monday, October 29. After the dive he started to feel pain and his condition got worse around 4:00am this morning. At around 5:30am the man was put on the boat after the doctor advised his family that he be brought to Tongatapu for immediate medical attention. 

"But unfortunately he died on the way and the boat returned to Pangai to return his body."

The man's name had not yet been released.

"An inquest will be held to confirm the cause of death. But if it is confirmed that he was diving using gas cylinders for sea cucumbers we will work together with the Fisheries Department in the investigation since it has resulted in a death," he said.

Diving for sea cucumbers using gas cylinders is illegal under the Tonga Fisheries Act.

"This is the third death just from last week," 'Unga said.

Last week a 25-year-old man drowned after his leg apparently got tangled in a nylon line that he used while diving for sea cucumber, on the northern coast of ‘Atata Island, on Thursday October 25.

A second drowning death of a fisherman off Tongatapu was reported by on October 26 after the body of a 22 year old fisherman from Patangata was found on the reef by other fishermen returning from Pangaimotu Island.