A 36-year-old missing fisherman from Lofanga has been found alive by an RNZAF Orion after his boat broke down two days ago.
‘Aho Ta’e’iloa Ma’ulu’ulu was located three miles north west of Ha’afeva this afternoon.
The P-3K2 Orion aircraft saw Ma’ulu’ulu shortly after arriving in the search area about midday.
“When they flew past the crew saw the man standing on the canopy of his boat, waving a flag,” Group Captain Nick Olney said.
“The Orion gave the boat’s location to a patrol boat from Tonga’s armed forces, which was about 28 kilometres away,” Olney said.
Meanwhile, a 32-year-old Hala’ovave man went missing yesterday Wednesday 4 after a boat capsized on the Mo’unga’one channel, a Police spokesperson told Kaniva News this afternoon.
“There were 7 people on board and 6 were found alive while the 32 years-old man is still missing”, she said.
“That operation is currently coordinated by the people of Mo’unga’one and supported by the Ha’apai Police.”