Felonitesi Manukiais a member of ‘AtaOngo Tonga Aotearoa, the media and communications arm of the Methodist Church’s Tongan Synod, Vahefonua Tonga. He shares an exclusive interview with Touchstone based on the miraculous experience of one man who defied incredible odds to survive the Tongan tsunami

On any given Sunday morning Lisala Folau prepares for church, but when a tsunami hit Tonga the harshly crippled man instead found himself swimming for his survival. The 57-year-old father-of-five, and devout Methodist, swam over 14km and stayed afloat at sea for more than 27 hours before reaching safe land. His only ally during his fight for life was a half metre-wide piece of plywood that spanned from his chin to his belly.

Folau was swept to sea by the treacherous tsunami that swamped the island nation on 15 January, after an undersea volcano erupted causing black rocks and ash to rain from the sky and triggering a bombardment of vicious waves onto many parts of the country.

“Not once did I give up hope of reaching safety,” he told Touchstone in an exclusive phone interview. “It’s human nature to be scared when faced with situations that could take your life. But I held firm in my hope and my confidence grew as the hours wore on. My faith in God remained as strong as ever.”

Folau’s “miraculous” ordeal began about 6pm on Saturday evening. At about 6am the next day, when the pitch darkness subsided, he was washed ashore a reef more than 5km away from his home on ‘Atatā Island.

The Pacific kingdom is now recovering from the perilous tsunami that hit the tiny country. It has so far claimed three lives and has virtually wiped out many villages and low-lying areas and outer islands.

Neighbouring counties, including New Zealand, have responded with emergency disaster surveillance, reconnaissance operations and pledges of much-needed financial aid. Tongan expatriate communities here, Australia and the United States, as well as other parts of the globe, have mobilised relief efforts to provide for the thousands of families smothered by the tragedy of nature.

Survival a miracle

The waters at ‘Atatā, where Folau, was swimming for his life, are notorious for killer sharks.

“They [sharks] are well-known to be around that area but luckily I never encountered one while trying to stay afloat. My last drink and meal and drink, a cup of coffee and a light snack, was on Saturday morning around 8am. Many hours had passed since then but that was the least of my worries as my priority was getting back to safe land.”

Folau, a lay preacher and a former head steward of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (the Methodist Church in the Kingdom), said he spent much of his time afloat praying – not because he was scared, but because his faith in God never diminished in any shape or form.

“My faith carried me through,” he said.

On social media, Tongans abroad have called his heroic efforts ‘nothing short of a miracle’. One poster on Facebook declared that every tragedy needed a hero’s story and that Folau’s plight, was, just that.

A son of Folau living in Australia, Talivakaola, also took to the social media platform to share his thankfulness.

“This is one story I’ll never forget. While talking to my family in Tonga my tears were constant as I was thinking of my Dad swimming around at sea after the tsunami struck.

“I was crying so hard when imagining you drinking the seawater Dad, but you’re a strong-hearted man. “

Fellow Tongans have described Folau’s as a “mana” or miracle in their native tongue.

A long swim home

Folau, a retired carpenter, is disabled and often requires a person to assist him walking or by using special home-made crutches. He stayed afloat and swam from his home island via a reef and an uninhabited island to eventually reach the main island of Tongatapu, an aggregate distance of more than 14km.

He was painting his house when warnings were sounded of a probable tsunami.

“My older brother, and a nephew came to help me walk faster. The first wave swept through our lounge, so we moved to another part of the house. That’s when a bigger wave struck – one that looked to me to be way more than 6 metres. Be mindful that I am crippled. I can’t walk properly because it’s hard for me. We were taking refuge on the side of the house that’s most inland. The waves were coming in fast but we managed to dodge the first couple.”

But the waves became even more fierce. Folau and a niece, ‘Elisiva, climbed a tree while his brother ran to find help. Just when they thought there was respite in the waves, they hurried down but a larger wave struck.

“I felt the waves just below us, ‘Elisiva and I had nothing firm to hold onto and we were swept out to the darkness of the sea,” Folau said. “We were trying to stay above water, calling each other’s name. It was dark and we could not see but soon I could no longer hear my niece calling but I could hear my son calling.”

At that moment, Folau made a selfless decision that he believes was the right one. He did not answer his son’s call - fearful that his son would risk his own life to save him.

“In truth no son will ever abandon his father or mother, no matter what. But, thinking as a father, I maintained my silence because if I answered he would try to save me. Despite the tough conditions and rough seas, I still thought I would be able to save myself but feared for my son’s life. If anyone was to die it would be me – not my son. I floated and clung tightly to a piece of plywood and got washed onto a reef at the tiny island of Toketoke.”

Around 6am on Sunday morning Folau could still hear the sound of volcanic activity around him. At dawn, he saw a police rescue vessel heading to his home island of ‘Atatā.

“I tried to wave them down with a piece of shirt but they didn’t see me. When I saw it [the boat] heading back in the Nuku’alofa direction, I waved again but they still did not see me.”

By now the rough seas had eased. Folau’s next thought was to get to the small uninhabited island of Polo’a, several kilometres away. He started swimming while clinging to the piece of plywood. He estimated he left the reef around 10am and grounded at Polo’a around 6pm that evening.

“I wanted to see if anyone else was washed ashore there but there was no one.”

Folau realised he had survived the tsunami and it was just a matter of swimming around 2km to the main island of Tongatapu. His thoughts were now centred on his niece ‘Elisiva who was swept away with him. Much to his joy he later learned that she, too, had survived after safely making it back to shore on their home island of ‘Atatā.

Folau’s final task was to swim to “mui’i Sopu” on the western flank of the capital Nuku’alofa, at Tongatapu. He reached mui’i Sopu around 10pm, having left Polo’a around 9pm.

Folau finally managed to get to a public road and was picked up by a passing motorist and taken to the driver’s home. He is now resting at his sister’s home in Hofoa. Many of Folau’s people from ‘Atatā, including his family, have been evacuated and are, too, in shelters on Tongatapu. 

Support for Tonga

New Zealand Church leaders have issued a joint statement offering prayers and support for all those affected by the disaster. As a signatory to that statement, Tara Tautari, General Secretary, Methodist Church of New Zealand, requests your prayerful solidarity and financial support.

Donations are welcome in one of two ways:

1) Our Vahefonua Tonga Synod is coordinating efforts to provide emergency supplies to Tonga. Donations can be made to
Bank: BNZ Account: Vahefonua Tonga O Aotearoa

Account number: 02-0800-0110726-00

Reference: Tonga - Name of church or Donor

2) Our ecumenical agency Christian World Service is also directing funds to the Tonga Emergency Appeal:

cws.org.nz/what-we-do/emergencies/tonga-emergency/

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (from Psalm 46)