Tongan man Lisala Folau dubbed ‘real life Aquaman’ after surviving 27-hour swim to safety

A 57-year-old disabled man has shared his amazing survival story after swimming for 27 hours to safety following the Tongan tsunami.

A 57-year-old Tongan man has been dubbed a “real life Aquaman” after he swam and floated about 8 kilometres over a 27-hour period after being swept away by the tsunami.

Lisala Folau, a retired disabled carpenter, told Tongan radio station Broadcom FM that he swam from his island of Atata via two other uninhabited islands to eventually reach the main island of Tongatapu.

Mr Folau said he tried to signal boats before eventually reaching the mainland, where he was picked up by a passing car.

This handout photo released courtesy of Tonga's Minister for Trade and Economic Development shows destruction along the western beaches of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu from Hatafu to Vakaloa.

In the interview, which was translated and shared by senior editor George Lavaka on Facebook, he said he had been painting his home on Saturday when he was alerted about the tsunami.

“My elder brother and a nephew came to my assistance, this time the wave has gone through our lounge, we moved to another part of the house when a bigger wave, this wave I would estimate was about not less than six metres, [arrived],” he said. “Bear in mind that I am disabled. I can’t walk properly … and when I can, I believe a baby can walk faster than I.”

“When the wave break on land just below us, my niece Elisiva and I had nothing to hold onto and we were swept out to sea. This was 7pm,” Mr Folau said. “We floated at sea, just calling out to each other. It was dark and we could not see each other. Very soon I could not hear my niece calling anymore but I could hear my son calling.”

Pictures from on the ground in Tonga in the days following the volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Mr Folau said he decided not to answer his son as he didn’t want him to risk his life to save him.

“The truth is no son can abandon his father. But for me, as a father I kept my silence for if I answered him he would jump in and try to rescue me. But I understand the tough situation and I thought if the worst comes and it is only me,” he said.

Mr Folau’s son and niece have sadly not yet been accounted for.

He said he used a rag to try and signal down two passing boats but neither saw him.

Around 10am on Sunday he decided to swim 6 kilometres to the uninhabited island of Polo’a Island so he could get closer to the mainland.

He then swam almost two kilometres to Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu. He was found at around 9pm in Sopu, on the outskirts of capital city Nuku’alofa.

One of the man’s sons, Talivakaola Folau, took to Facebook to share the “story I’ll never forget in my life.”

“While talking with family in Tonga my tears continued to fall when I think of my Dad swimming around in the ocean after the tsunami hit … My heart is broken imagining you drinking in the seawater Dad, but you’re a strong-willed man.”