All Black Tupou Vaa’i recounts brother’s drowning in water safety appeal

An All Black has spoken of the heartbreak of losing his brother, who drowned on a summer day.

Tupou Vaa’i, 25, lost his older brother Tevita as a child.

“I kind of wish that he was still here with us at this moment,” Tupou said. “He would have been 27 today.”

Water Safety New Zealand, which is launching its “Days Like These” summer water safety campaign, said the loss continues to shape Vaa’i’s relationship with water and remains deeply felt by his family.

Vaa’i said the tragedy occurred at a creek near their Ōtara home in the summer of 2004.

He said they were playing when he and Tevita decided to jump into the water, unaware of the full extent of the danger.

“We just saw the water and decided to jump in, not realising how dangerous it was, and we didn’t know how to swim at the time, which was pretty scary,” he said.

He said he managed to pull himself out, but his brother could not and drowned at 7 years old.

“It was probably just the choices that we made, that it was wrong and it cost my brother’s life,” Vaa’i said.

In a video interview for Water Safety New Zealand, he said he could remember the desperate moments in the water as he scrambled to safety.

“I just remember I was in the water in the creek and looking up and seeing light and like all these bubbles.

“I was kind of like scraping to get to the surface. I managed to pull myself out and just remember crying all the way home,” he said.

Vaa’i said he remembered his father sprinting out the door, towards the creek.

Despite growing up surrounded by water, he said he only learned to swim as an adult, gaining water confidence two years ago.

Water safety has since become important in his role as a parent. Vaa’i said he has already enrolled his young son in swimming lessons.

Tupou Vaa’i lost his older brother Tevita in a drowning incident during the summer of 2004. Photo / Photosport

‘Concerning trend’

Vaa’i acknowledged the importance of improving water safety outcomes for Pasifika communities, which account for about 8% of drowning fatalities nationally, rising to 17% in Auckland.

“I know what it feels like to lose a loved one; I don’t want that happening to anyone else.”

Water Safety New Zealand said an average 86 Kiwis die in preventable drownings every year.

It said 43% of all drownings occur in summer months – New Zealand’s deadliest drowning season – as more people head to beaches, rivers, lakes, harbours, campgrounds and holiday hotspots.

Water Safety New Zealand said this summer has begun with a “concerning trend”.

As of today, 70 people have already drowned in New Zealand this year, exceeding the 68 lives lost at the same time in 2024.

How to stay safe

• Wear a life jacket – in every craft, in every place. Water Safety New Zealand said you should always wear a life jacket when fishing from rocks.
• Never dive alone – so someone is there to respond when the unexpected happens.
• Keep a close eye on young children near all types of water, including inflatable and temporary pools. Water Safety New Zealand said a designated adult needs to be with every individual child around water.
• Be aware of known blackspots and local conditions. In Auckland, 39% of drownings occur at recognised high-risk locations, particularly the west coast beaches.
• Recognise that many drownings happen unexpectedly – slips, falls and being near water can be fatal, even when entering the water was never intended. Water Safety New Zealand said if you have been drinking alcohol, don’t walk home near water. 
• Avoid swimming at beaches when lifeguards are not on patrol. If the flags aren’t up and you’re unfamiliar with the conditions, it advises staying out of the water.
• Do not swim alone. Always swim between the red and yellow flags 
• Water Safety New Zealand advises Kiwis to understand their own abilities, look after one another and respect the conditions.

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