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Tsunami man died saving mother
03/04/2007 13:07 - (SA)
Wellington - A New Zealand man drowned in the Solomon Islands tsunami while trying to save his crippled mother from the surging waves.
Teangauki Toma, 53, was visiting family in the Gizo area, one of the regions worst hit by Monday's tsunami, which was sparked by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake.
He refused to leave his mother Beima Toma when a second massive wave swept through his parents' small village. His body was later recovered, although his mother remained missing.
The prison officer and father of eight was brought up in the Solomons before moving to New Zealand 34 years ago. He was making his first trip to the Solomons for 18 years in order to visit his ailing parents.
His daughter Teresa, 29, said despite their grief, the family was immensely proud of what he had done.
"The one thing we keep saying over and over again is how proud (we are). He is our hero," she told the New Zealand Press Association.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described Toma's death as "very tragic".
"Our hearts go out to the family," she said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said the country would make an initial NZ$500 000 (R2.59m) contribution to the Solomon Islands and also provide urgently needed relief supplies.
He said an air force aircraft flew to the Solomons on Tuesday loaded with food and other emergency supplies.
"Initial assessments of damage and casualties are continuing but the available information suggests the situation is grave and there are thousands of Solomon Islanders requiring urgent assistance," Peters said.
- AFP
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