57-Year-Old ‘Real Life Aquaman’ Once Survived a Disastrous Tsunami by Swimming 27 Hours

When dangers threaten life, the strong fight relentlessly with hope. This is exactly what a man named Lisala Folau did after a tsunami threatened his life. Now known as an ‘Aquaman’ for his heroic feat, Folau finally disclosed all the details of this heroic feat of swimming. This incident took place on the Atata island of Tongatapu. 

At the time the tsunami came, Folau was painting in his house. After being warned by his relatives about the tsunami, Folau talked about how he moved to another part of the house to escape the enormous waves with his relatives. Further continuing, Folau described how he along with his niece was able to climb a tree whereas his brother went to get assistance. Despite being unable to walk properly, Folau showed surprising strength. However, this was not the end of his troubles.

Folau’s battle against the tsunami and his Herculean swimming feat 

Swimming despite the tsunami and surviving the ocean has made people now regard Folau as a legend, while his story is now viral. “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,” Folau described. In a terrifying moment, Folau realized, he was unable to hear his niece’s voice anymore, which indicated she had drifted away from him. 

While Folau’s son kept calling him, he chose not to take his son’s call. His reasoning was,” I kept my silence for if I answered him he would jump in and try to rescue me.” Sighting a police boat, Folau tried to draw the police’s attention to him. His attempts, unfortunately, failed which led to him swimming till he reached the island of Polo. 

Read More: “Felt a Huge, Like a Really Hard Hit”: Ocean Swimmer Recounted the Horrors of a Near-Fatal Shark Attack Earlier This Year

Folau described how he tried shouting for help but didn’t get any good response. “I was now strong-minded that I could make it to mui’i Sopu,” Folau narrated. After swimming for more than four miles to reach this destination, his ordeal ended when he was given a lift by a motorist. This is not the only incident where a person had to swim for more than 20 hours to survive. In 2017, a young surfer named Matthew Bryce had to survive for 32 hours in the wide ocean.

Matthew Bryce’s dangerous and unforgettable experience in the ocean 

In 2017, Bryce had gone surfing in the waves in Lanarkshire in Scotland. However, strong waves and currents forced him to go deeper into the ocean. His shouts went unnoticed by a boat that passed by later, and therefore Bryce continued swimming. While the possibility of not making it crossed his mind, fate had something different in store for him. 

Surprisingly, Bryce saw a helicopter. Not wanting to miss his maybe last chance of rescue, Bryce did something completely unexpected. Jumping from his board, Bryce held the board high, towards the sky. Luckily, the helicopter did notice him and he was rescued.  

Watch This Story: Swimming GOAT Michael Phelps Revisited His Record-Breaking Swimming Memories 

Folau’s and Bryce’s stories prove that one can battle any difficult circumstance with willpower and strength. Fans will always find these stories inspiring as they show how nothing is impossible if one dares to fight. Have you had any similar experiences in the water? Share your perspective in the comments below. 

“