Rescued local returns home

A Solomon Islander who was rescued after 47 days at sea on August 18 in the remote south coast of West New Britain province in Papua New Guinea was safely repatriated to Honiara over the weekend to rejoin his family just before Father’s Day.

The Solomon Islands High Commission in Port Moresby facilitated the repatriation of Malefo Anisi on an Air Niugini flight to Honiara on Saturday.

Anisi went missing after he made a boat trip from Honiara to Western province on July 3.

Due to unfavourable weather and the shutdown of his GPS due to a failed battery he did not reach his intended destination.

His outboard motor also ran out of fuel.

Anisi drifted for 47 days in the Solomons and PNG waters. He was rescued on August 18 on the remote south coast of West New Britain province in Papua New Guinea.

He was later airlifted by helicopter to Kimbe hospital for emergency medical check-up and was kept for a few days at a guesthouse in Kimbe to fully recuperate.

He was repatriated to Port Moresby on September 1.  

The Solomon Islands High Commission acknowledges with deep gratitude the kind assistance rendered by a number of individuals, public and private agencies in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands who were instrumental in ensuring Anisi’s welfare was taken care of until his repatriation to Honiara.

A final selfie with H.E William Soaki at Jackson’s International Airport, Port Moresby before Malefo Anisi boards the Air Niugini flight to Honiara on Saturday 3 September 2022

These include; PNG Foreign Affairs Department, Immigration Division, West New Britain Provincial Disaster office, Kimbe Hospital, Air Niugini, Solomon Islands Immigration Division, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health & Medical Services, Jack the forester, villagers on Kaskas Island and the two young girls who did the initial rescue. 

Anisi arrived safely in Honiara and reunited with his family on the eve of Father’s Day.

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