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Reuters
Reuters
Environment
Jill Gralow

'Life and death' at sea: log keeps Tonga's 'Aquaman' from going under

Lisala Folau (wearing blue printed shirt), a Tongan man who says he swam for around 27 hours after getting swept to sea by Saturday's tsunami, sits with other people of Atata island in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, January 19, 2022 in this picture obtained from social media. Picture taken January 19, 2022. Marian Kupu/Broadcom Broadcasting FM87.5/via REUTERS

A 57-year-old Tongan man being hailed a real-life Aquaman for surviving 27 hours at sea after Saturday's devastating tsunami struck his island said he went under nine times before latching onto a log and making it to safety.

"On the eighth time I thought, the next time I go underwater that's it, because my arms were the only things that were keeping me above water," said Lisala Folau, who is disabled and cannot walk properly, speaking to Reuters from Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa.

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