Black Tupou Vaa’i Shares Brother’s Drowning Story for Water Safety

An All Black player, Tupou Vaa’i, expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of his brother Tevita, who drowned when Tupou was a child. Reflecting on the tragedy, which occurred in a creek near their Ōtara home in 2004, Tupou wished his brother were still alive, noting he would have turned 27 today. This loss continues to influence Vaa’i’s relationship with water and profoundly affects his family. The event coincided with Water Safety New Zealand’s launch of their “Days Like These” summer water safety campaign.

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