Two fishermen found dead and a third rescued after missing off Huahine
Two members of a family fishing crew were recovered dead off Huahine, while a third survivor was rescued after spending a night in the water.
A three-person fishing crew from the same family departed on Saturday aboard a "poti marara" vessel near Huahine in French Polynesia. When they did not return, authorities launched a rescue operation around 21:00 local time. The boat was later spotted southwest of Huahine amid a strong yellow warning for rough conditions, but it was empty.
Early Sunday, two of the men were recovered dead and taken ashore. The third fisherman was located later that day, alive but weakened after a night at sea, and was rescued by a combination of a Navy Falcon aircraft, a Dauphin helicopter and numerous local fishing boats. The Haut-Commissariat confirmed the recoveries and highlighted the extensive resources deployed for the operation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the dangers faced by small-scale fishers in French Polynesia's challenging seas.
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