The Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) has called off the search for a 24-year-old fisherman who was swept out to sea in Lotofaga last Thursday.

“The first 12 hours upon receiving the call for assistance is critical for the survival of the person in question and that’s when we come in for the search and rescue,” said F.E.S.A. Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga.

“We have had to call of the search on Saturday, but the case is still open and the Ministry of Police and Prisons are still taking information available from members of the public."

He said after 24 hours, the FESA then moves to “search and recover” in efforts to recover the body.

“As I said earlier the first 12 hours are critical and search continues nonstop unless the weather condition worsens then they have to call of the search,” said the Commissioner.

The F.E.S.A. Commissioner reemphasized the need for members of the public to heed weather warnings. He told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that was main issue behind the difficulty of the search since the Thursday is the bad weather and the rough seas.

“Hence the call for fishermen to please heed the warnings issued by the Samoa Meteorology Division. It is vital,” he said.

Last week, the F.E.S.A. Commissioner was disappointed seeing the public taking weather warnings lightly.

He said that F.E.S.A continues to remind the public that safety should be a priority. 

“When the Samoa Meteorology Division, issues warnings of heavy rain, flooding and wind warnings for the islands of Samoa, the public should not downplay this; it is important the public including fisherman take the warnings seriously as they are issued for a reason for safety purposes," he said. 

He said that the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and the Ministry of Police and Prisons were out there at Lotofaga and Aleipata trying to recover the body of the fisherman. 

“[A] search party from F.E.S.A. and the Police went early [Friday] morning hoping to rescue but the treacherous weather makes it very difficult," said Tanuvasa. 

“Divers were also requested to search underneath but the sea conditions are not safe." 

Last month Police and Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) were searching for the body of a teenage boy in Fagaloa after he was lost at sea while fishing with his brother.

“There were two of them that went fishing,” the Commissioner said at the time. 

“The two are brothers from Saletele and Sauano in Fagaloa, according to the family members who were with us yesterday. 

“There were many of us who were in Fagaloa yesterday searching for the boy. You’re looking at about 20, plus the Police and also some of the villagers and members of the family who joined and assisted the search party.” 

Tanuvasa said according to reports relayed to them, the two were not on a canoe, but on foot at the reef. 

The boy is believed to be 18 or 19 years of age according to Police.