Ambulance Photo: AFP
Three people are dead, two of them children, following two separate fishing incidents in French Polynesia.
In Huahine, about 150 Km North-west of the main island of Tahiti, a fishing party involving children turned tragic earlier this week.
On Wednesday this week, a three-year-old girl and her grandfather went fishing in a lake in Huiahine's Faunanui Bay, public broadcaster Polynésie La Première reported.
Emergency services, including a helicopter, were alerted by family members when they had not seen the pair return at the end of the day.
They started searching the area that same night and quickly located the body of the small girl on the lakeshores.
The next morning, after hours of searching with the help of the local community, the 56-year-old grandfather's body was found in the lake.
"I always remind people who go there to be careful (...) There was a strong current (on Wednesday), it was windy", local township official Ronald Tchéou said.
"But it's the first time this happens".
Regular warnings are being issued on the risk of strong swells and currents in the area.
Family tragedy
Earlier this month, an 8-year-old boy was found dead, caught in quicksand in French Polynesia's Kauehi atoll, Tuamotu archipelago, about 500km north-east of the main island of Tahiti.
The young boy was accompanying his parents on a fishing outing in this part of the lagoon, which is known for its high concentration of fish.
"It's like a fish reserve, which we call the 'roto', it's a mud and sand basin where we go fishing and children also like to play there", a family member told Tahiti Nui Television (TNTV) on Wednesday.
The incident, described as "extremely rare", is reported to have taken place on 2 April 2025.
Coming back from a nearby fishing spot, the father found his son unconscious and tried to resuscitate him.
Helicopter emergency services were flown from the capital Papeete and arrived at the scene early in the evening, but the child was later pronounced dead after unsuccessful attempts to revive him.
An inquest into the cause of the death has concluded to be an accident.
Counselling support were sent to assist the victim's parents, who remain in a state of deep shock.
