Nemesio Bakau yesterday shook his head in disbelief as he searched familiar waters for his missing son.

Mr Bakau said: “Suliasi is my only child and he is my right hand. I want to see my son’s body, and I don’t want him to be out there at sea.”

Suliasi Tavicaracara, 23, of Laucala Island, Vutia, Rewa, disappeared after he tried to swim across the estuary of the Rewa River, against strong currents and treacherous conditions brought about by Tropical Disturbance 04F, despite warnings by authorities to the public not to venture out into waters. Three other men who swam with him made it safely to the island.

This is the same stretch of water that he and other villagers travel almost daily to go fishing, planting or visiting other villages.

Mr Bakau said: “I am getting old and he is our only hope, I don’t know where he is right now but I believe I will find him and I won’t stop looking.”

He openly cried and lamented: “I am really speechless and I don’t know why this has happened to me.”

Mr Bakau said he now faced a bleak Christmas with the loss of his only child.

The villagers said, ever since Mr Bakau found out his son was missing, he never stopped searching.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), he was the first one to start the search even before the Police arrived, nearly the whole night he was out here,” said a villager.

Mr Bakau said his son was a decent young man and his loss had broken his heart.