A body has been recovered during the search for a Veitongo man who was swimming this morning in the waters of one of Tongatapu’s most notorious beaches.
Reports said the victim was visiting the village of Fātumu before the incident.
Photos shared on social media appeared to show Police attended the scene at Laulea beach.
The recovery operation comes after a Police officer died at the same beach in January.
As Kaniva News reported at the time Selomiti Tufui was working at the Mu’a Police Station until her tragic passing on New Year’s Day.
Laulea beach is one of the most dangerous places in Tonga to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.
In 2018 Viliami Vaka’uta, 24, was presumed dead after he attempted to save her wife in the water.
‘Inoke Mapaleve Mo’unga, 32, of Kolonga drowned at the beach after visiting there with his wife and friends.
In 2012 Catholic priest, Father Mikaele Mateo , 37, died at Laulea Beach while helping to rescue his five young nephews who were swept out to open sea by the strong currents.