A young Samoan man who drowned on an Australian beach had recently moved to Perth to help his brother’s family settle into their new home.
Sio Afamasaga, 22, was swimming with his brother, sister-in-law and children at Perth City Beach on Friday to celebrate the last day of their Christmas holiday.
Afamasaga became trapped in a rip at around 12:45 along with another man, who was dragged safely to shore.
A Surf Life Saving WA helicopter spotted Mr Afamasaga in the water and took him to shore, where paramedics performed CPR.
He was then rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he later died.
Mr Afamasaga’s sister-in-law, Soo Afamasaga, said the generous young man had moved to Perth to help them cover expenses while they settled into their new home.
“He lived with us and worked with my husband (Pita) to help his family at home and help us with rent and stuff,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
With most of Mr Afamasaga’s family in Samoa, they want to return his body home “as soon as possible” but have no savings for the expensive trip.
Sio Afamasaga (pictured with her niece) drowned at Perth City Beach on Friday. His heartbroken family are now raising funds to send his body to Samoa.
A Surf Life Saving WA helicopter spotted Mr Afamasaga in the water at City Beach (pictured) and took him to shore where paramedics performed CPR.
‘It was so unexpected and we were not prepared. We don’t have the money, but his family wants him to come home so they can say goodbye permanently,” said Mrs Afamasaga.
‘The cost of this is very expensive, more than $10,000. Then there are the medical expenses and my husband’s trip with him.’
Afamasaga’s older brother, Pita Afamasaga, said his family “treasured” him.
“My parents and family aspire to send his body to Samoa so they can pay their respects properly,” he wrote in a post on GoFundMe.
“He was their youngest and most precious son.”
Afamasaga’s brother, Pita, created the GoFundMe campaign on Saturday in hopes of raising enough money for the repatriation flight.
“Unfortunately we do not have the funds to send him back to Samoa as it was an unexpected accident and we were not prepared,” he said.
‘We humbly ask for donations to help cover the expenses of the funeral director, my flight and medications to preserve his body during the trip. I really appreciate anything you can afford and thank you for your support.’
Afamasaga (pictured) moved to Australia to help his brother’s family settle in Perth.
Pita Afamasaga had hoped to talk about his brother but was too distraught to be interviewed by Daily Mail Australia.
Afamasaga said the family had gone to City Beach “to have fun” but instead suffered a “devastating start to 2025”.
“It is very difficult and that is why we are doing everything possible to bring him home. He is the youngest and his parents are very sad about the news,” he said.
WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.