Rip too vicious for strong league star

Sonny Fai

Despite being fit and strong, Warriors rugby league player Sonny Fai drowned at sea when he tired in a strong rip after an intense workout on a West Auckland beach.

An inquest in the Auckland District Court yesterday was told he spent an hour doing exercises and running in the sand dunes at Bethells Beach.

The 20-year-old rising star had gone to the beach with two carloads of family members late in the afternoon of January 4.

After the exercises complementing his pre-season league training, he and cousin Tone Lafoga selected what they thought was a calm stretch at the northern end of the beach.

But the calmness of the water hid a strong rip that runs right-left across the beach.

Mr Lafoga said they were playing around for about half an hour when the water suddenly got deeper and "started to pull us out".

"I called out for my brother to help me and [Fai] pushed me towards the shore. Sonny and [his younger brother Gillespie] were getting pushed out further."

Gillespie came out of the water by himself about five minutes later and told his family: "Sonny just let go."

Detective Sergeant Eugene Pickett said Fai and Gillespie were struggling to stay upright. Fai grabbed his younger brother and supported him before pushing him towards the shore.

While Fai was a strong, fit man, it was thought the rip, coupled with his just-completed fitness session, meant he "succumbed to the surf".

Anyone with knowledge of rips would have known the calm water was hazardous and a lack of understanding of the conditions placed them at risk, said Mr Pickett.

Rescuers thought they saw a body floating face down but could not reach it.

The Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, said it seemed clear that Fai died because he put the interests of his brother before himself.

"He was a strong man but not a strong swimmer."

Judge MacLean ruled that Fai succumbed to the surf conditions and drowned despite intensive efforts to save him.

He recommended there be an emergency telephone on the beach and asked for his findings to be sent to Telecom.

He hoped the company would work with the Waitakere City Council to install one.

Cellphone coverage in the area is patchy and lack of a permanent phone could be a problem in an emergency, although Judge MacLean noted that rescue efforts to save Fai were immediate.

Fai's sister Lalelei said the inquest brought closure to her family.

"This is the next step for us to move forward. Having my whole family here makes us know we've got the support and the strength to pull through this, and I know that's what Sonny would have wanted."

She said the family went regularly to Bethells Beach because it felt as if Sonny was there.