It sounds like the script of a Hollywood disaster movie, and it probably will, but the story of
a disabled carpenter
blown away by the tsunami in Tonga and survived floating in the waves for
24 hours
is true.
Lisala Folau
was whitewashing his home on the
island of Atata
on Saturday when his brother and a nephew came to warn him of the tsunami. In an instant the waves overwhelmed them and the water was everywhere. He and
a niece
climbed a tree. "I am disabled, I walk very badly, a child walks better than me," said the carpenter, telling his incredible story to a local radio.
As soon as the waves subsided they decided to go down but just at that moment another wave overwhelmed them and dragged them
into the open sea
. At that point they had no grips, it was seven in the evening and it was pitch dark. Lisala and her niece floated, carried by the current, calling each other. At one point from the shore he heard the voice of his son shouting his name, but decided not to answer him knowing that he would risk his life to save him.
So he looked for
a trunk to hold onto
, thinking that at least, if he died, his family would recover the body. Instead, with his makeshift vehicle, he managed to get to another island,
Toketoke
. There he saw a police patrol boat, took a rag and started shaking it but was unable to show himself. In the meantime, it was day and he decided to try to move to yet another island,
Polo'a
, where he arrived around 6 pm.
"I screamed for help but there was no one. I thought of my niece who had been wiped out, while I was able to survive," he said.
At 9 pm
he finally managed to get to Sopu, where he staggered along the paved road and was rescued by a car.
The Guardian, who reported his incredible story, was unable to establish what happened to the carpenter's brother and nephews.
However, only three people were confirmed dead following the tsunami that engulfed the archipelago and none of Atata.
Falala's adventure went viral on social media.
One of his sons
Talivakaola
wrote a post on Facebook to express his gratitude: "A story I will never forget in my life ... I cry when I think of my father swimming in the ocean after the tsunami ... It breaks me. your heart imagining yourself drinking sea water dad, but you are a strong man ".
