Lisala Folau has lost his homeland. The 57-year-old lived on the small island of Atata, which belongs to the island nation of Tonga. On Saturday, however, the underwater volcano erupted, and a huge tsunami wave rolled over the island, wiping out everything in its path. Folau was washed out to sea. O-TON LISALA FOLAU, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: “I am disabled, my legs don’t work properly. I was pulled under water eight times, I tried to breathe, but the sea whirled me around and kept pulling me down.” However, he then managed to hold on to a piece of wood. According to his own statements, he held on to it for 27 hours before finally reaching an island once more. O-TON LISALA FOLAU, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR: “I was afraid. But through my belief in God I overcame it.” Folau is happy to be back with his family. Because of his perseverance, he is now celebrated on the Internet as a hero.
