IT’S a story that has caught the hearts of many Pacific Islanders. His journey was shared around the region since he was found.
After being lost and presumed dead at sea, Webestar Malefo Anisi, was finally reunited with his family over the weekend.
His families and relatives already gave up hope after days of search have been exhausted.
Instead he journeyed on, never gave up, and endured the wild weathers and the open seas.
Mr Anisi was finally rescued after 47 days at sea on 18 August 2022 on the remote south coast of West New Britain province in Papua New Guinea.
It was an experience that has caught many who described his journey as a true story of miracle.
With God’s leading and guidance throughout the ordeal he 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 Mr. Malefo Anisi on an Air Niugini flight to Honiara on Saturday 3rd September 2022.
Mr Anisi was on a waiting list for the Saturday flight, but thankfully he managed to get a seat on that flight and headed home.
It was a grand welcome, filled with tears of joy and happiness. A welcome ceremony was also held for him over the weekend.
No doubt Mr Anisi has a lot of the stories to share with his families and relatives.
His journey was supposed to be half day’s boat trip from Honiara to Bunikalo, Marovo, Western Province on 3rd July.
However, due to unfavorable weather and failed GPS due to low battery he failed to reach his intended destination.
His outboard motor also ran out of fuel. Anisi drifted for 47 days in the Solomons and PNG waters.
After being rescued, he was able to live with the community who there for few days.
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 Thursday, September 1.
He finally got a seat and was able to return home much to the excitement of his family members and relatives.
The government through the Solomon Islands High Commission has acknowledged with deep gratitude the kind assistance rendered by a number of individuals, public and private agencies in PNG and Solomon Islands who were instrumental in ensuring Mr. Anisi’s welfare was taken care off until his final repatriation to Honiara.
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.
As a token of the appreciation the outboard motor was gifted to the two girls who rescued him.
Had it not been for the two girls who were at the beach that day, it would have been a different turn of events.
But through God’s leading, they were at the right spot and the right time to spot him and immediately rescued him and his OBM.
For that, the two girls deserve a huge thanks for the initial rescue.
Tagio tru lo utufala.
