Translated from FaaSamoa. The family of a 41-year-old father of five from Lano Savaii, are trying to come to terms with his tragic death on Father’s Day Sunday.
Amoni Malaeulu has been described by his family, friends and villagers of Lano as loving father, uncle and brother who was the backbone of their family.
Villagers in Samoa and abroad are flooding social media with posts for man who was well loved not only in his family, but by the whole village of Lano.
Tributes posted from Samoa and abroad describe a humble man who will be missed, always happy to serve his family with a smile.
“I don’t think I have ever seen him with an angry face,” says one tribute from a grieving niece posting from overseas.
The tragedy began when a dead dolphin was washed up on the shores of the neigbouring village of Asaga as first reported by Radio Polynesia posting pictures on Saturday morning of the mammal surrounded by curious children.
However, as confirmed by Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo to Samoa Global News, the tide had come in and taken the carcass of the mammal back into the ocean, only to wash up the next day near rocks by the village of Lano.
“By this time, the smell coming from the carcass had become unbearable and the father of the deceased told his son to go out in the canoe and try to move the carcass out into the ocean,” said the Police Commissioner.
Amoni did not take out his canoe, but instead geared up in his flippers and snorkels. He is last seen waving back at the cameras before he swims out with the carcass roped up beside him.
Witnesses posting the incident from shore say they could see blood in the ocean, and sharks fins circling the area. They ran for help, “but by the time they were able to get out to him by canoe, it was too late,” said the Police Commissioner.
“This has been a tragic death, on the very day Samoa is honoring the role of fathers in families. We convey our deepest condolences to the family.”
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