The father of the four-year-old who died as a result of drowning in Falefa was charged by the police, Samoa Observer can reveal.

This information was put to the Police Commissioner on Wednesday, who confirmed that the father has been charged with failure to provide necessities of life. 

This newspaper understands that this was a recommendation from the Coroner following an analysis of the situation leading to the death of the child.

The child was allegedly pushed into the waterfall and believed to have drowned on Wednesday last week. It is believed that four-year-old Apa Taufoe, and his two younger siblings were without adult supervision near the waterfall when the incident happened.

Meanwhile, the police recovered Apa’s body last Friday morning bringing an end to a two-day operation in Falefa.

It was a sad moment for the family as the body was pulled out of the water and brought to the river bank. Pictures of Apa's parents in tears and clinging to the child's lifeless body have been shared on social media.

A day earlier, Apa's father, Taufoe Faitoto'a told Samoa Observer that losing a child was a harrowing experience.

He said he had not slept nor had been eating since his son drowned. The two younger children of the family also jumped into the waterfall to save their brother on Wednesday.

Luckily, a passerby jumped in to save the two-year-old and the one-year-old.

Mr Faototo'a thanked God that his two younger were saved otherwise they were looking at the loss of their three children.