Police Search and Rescue Boat (SAR) was searching for a 3-year-old boy in Ha’apai after he has gone missing after falling off a boat Saturday 3 around 5.07am.
His 5-year-old sister was rescued after the boat they were passenger in had an accident.
She was recovering well in Niu’ui hospital, Police said.
Police said a “local boat from ‘O’ua went under the loading end of the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while the ‘Otuanga’ofa was docked in Ha’afeva to pick up people from the nearby Islands to travel to Tongatapu”.
“The missing 3 year-old and his 5 year-old sister were among the passengers on board the boat from ‘O’ua when the incident occurs”, Police said.
“They both fell into the water and the 5 year-old was rescued by those who were at the scene.
However ‘O’ua locals told Kaniva News the passengers including the victims jumped off the boat into the sea when they realised the boat was heading under the ‘Otuanga’ofa’s loading door.
“The Police SAR boat, the ‘Amolua departed Pangai at 6:30 Saturday morning, heading to the scene in Ha’afeva”, Police said.
“They managed to rush the 5 year-old to Pangai and quickly transported her to the hospital for a thorough check.
“She is still at the Niu’ui Hospital recovering well.
“Assisting Police in searching for the 3 year-old are local boats from Ha’afeva. They have been searching nearby islands since the incident took place and continue to do so today.
“Police continue to investigate further details into the circumstances surrounding this incident”.
