A dream holiday turned to tragedy when Tongan-born New Zealand heavyweight boxer Semisi Kalu died saving the lives of his sons while swimming in Tonga.
Kalu, who represented Tonga at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and owned a drainlaying company in Auckland, had been visiting his mother in Tonga with his wife and three sons.
But the holiday was turned upside down on November 19 when two of his sons got into difficulty at a beach.
Former Olympic superheavyweight boxing champion Paea Wolfgramm – the uncle of Kalu’s wife Alexandria Ma’ilei Kalu – said the death was an absolute tragedy.
“I got the call from Alexandria’s mum [Trish], who was crying on the phone,” Wolfgramm told the Herald.
“Xandria [Alexandria] called her and then hung up as it had just happened at the beach.
“She was not clear what had happened, only that Semisi gave his life to save his sons.”
The Herald understands the family were due back to fly home to Auckland on November 20, the day after the incident.
According to a Tongan police report, Kalu, his wife and their sons arrived at the beach for lunch, and two of the three boys went straight into the water.
The report says Kalu and others noticed the boys had been taken out too far and were struggling.
Kalu entered the water. One son managed to swim back to shore, helped by an incoming wave, but his brother continued to struggle.
Kalu managed to get to the boy and help him back to shore, the report says. Despite CPR attempts, Kalu died at the scene.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, a grieving Alexandria wrote: “Semisi died giving his life to save two of our sons out at sea in Tonga.
“He leaves this world as an undefeated champion and now our forever hero🩶.
“I apologise for the delay in sharing this, as I have been trying to navigate through the shock and heartbreak while holding our boys close.
“Thank you for your love, prayers and support. In the darkest moment of our lives, your kindness means more than you will ever know.
“Our sons and I will be returning home to Auckland with our hero, to lay [him] to rest where we built our life, our memories, and our family together.
“With God’s strength, I will share more details of arrangements.”
In a video, Alexandria continued: “This is the hardest video I’ve ever made. Our family holiday became the darkest chapter of our lives as we lost the most loving husband and father.
“Yet even in our pain, I thank God for blessing me with a man like you, Semisi – a husband who worked, sacrificed, and loved us with everything he had.
“Never a widow, forever your wife. Your love and legacy live on in us, until we meet again. Forever my eternal love and companion.
“Love is eternal. Heaven gained you, but my heart keeps you. My hero. My husband. I love you.
“Forever yours. Forever us.
“My love. My champion. Our hero.
“My gentle, humble giant. I love you through this lifetime and the next. Our boys are safe asleep beside me because of you.”
The family returned to Auckland with Kalu’s body last week. There will be services for him today and tomorrow at Fountains Funerals in Papakura, and a burial at Manukau Memorial Gardens tomorrow.
Wolfgramm, 56, who won the super heavyweight silver medal at the 1996 Olympics, said Kalu was handy with the gloves, having represented Tonga at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Kalu also fought heavyweight bouts in the Auckland Boxing Association ring, including the 8-man Heavyweight Tournaments - and there are many clips of him on YouTube.
Wolfgramm said he is heartbroken for his niece and her three boys.
He first met Kalu in 2009 when Kalu was trialling for the Tongan Commonwealth Boxing team, and Wolfgramm was in the islands at the same time.
“Semisi and Alexandria came to New Zealand and settled in Auckland,” Wolfgramm said.
“He worked for a few different companies but did his ticket and then took the plunge to start his own business, Kalu Drainage.
“I admire him for that. Not everyone comes to New Zealand and gets qualified and then sets up their own.”
Wolfgramm met his niece and her boys when they arrived home from Tonga with their dad’s casket.
“You don’t know what to say,” Wolfgramm said.
“You give them a hug and tell them we are here for them.
“I can’t imagine what they are going through, but there is plenty of family around them.”
The family said all were welcome to pay their respects at 7pm today at Fountains Funerals in Papakura.
Joseph Los’e is the Kaupapa Māori Editor and joined NZME in 2022. Los’e was chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News, covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira. Los’e is also half Tongan.