Samoan emergency teams are searching for a tourist last seen at the To Sua Trench, in Upolu - the same place a Kiwi sailor went missing from last year. Photo / File
Samoan emergency teams are searching for a tourist last seen at the To Sua Trench, in Upolu - the same place a Kiwi sailor went missing from last year. Photo / File
Search efforts are underway in Samoa to find a tourist last seen at a popular swimming spot - the same place a New Zealand sailor went missing from last year.
Samoan Police were called to the To Sua trenches, in Upolu, shortly before 3pm on Sunday, local time.
They hadreceived a report of a missing Chinese tourist, Feng Nen Ming, who is thought to have been swept away while swimming there.
"Police and Fire and Emergency Authority responded to the request and have launched a search and rescue operation,'' a police statement said.
New Zealand sailor Joseph Tua. Tua went missing in Samoa last April. He was last seen at the popular tourist spot, the To Sua swimming hole. Photo / Supplied
The next morning, he visited an uncle's house. He left shortly afterwards to go exploring.
Tua's car and belongings - a bag, hat, iPad, wallet and passport - were later found near the To Sua Trench.
Authorities ruled that the young man either fell into the ocean or was struck by a rogue wave.
His body has never been found.
The To Sua trenches have long been a popular tourist attraction on the island. The unique land formation sees two giant holes joined by a lava tube cave.
One of the hole formations is the resulting 30m deep swimming pool that is accessed by a long ladder.
It is featured in many travel advertisements for Samoa and its scenic surroundings see it captured in photographs on a regular basis.
