The fisherman who was re­ported missing by authori­ties has said he did not have a mobile phone to alert his boss that he was okay.

Since Inoke Dileqa was unable to make contact on Thursday, the boat owner assumed he had drifted out to sea while Tropical Cyclone Sarai was pelting the Western Division.

The boat owner then called the au­thorities and alerted them that Mr Dileqa and the boat were missing.

While authorities risked their lives to locate Mr Dileqa and the boat, he was sleeping in the same that was docked near the Saweni mangroves.

“I heard the weather advisory and I took my boss’ boat to Saweni on Thursday. I remained in the boat until today (yesterday). When I came to the Lautoka Wharf, that’s when I found out that they were try­ing to get a hold of me,” Mr Dileqa said.

“I didn’t have a phone to contact my boss, and they thought that I had gone missing at sea, even the Fiji Navy were searching for me, but I was just sleeping in the fish­ing boat that was docked near the Saweni mangroves.

“This morning (yesterday) I tried to get a hold of a phone to contact my boss, so I met the Police and the warning was called off. However, I am grateful for their efforts to look for me even though it was just some miscommunication on my part.”

Police spokesperson Savaira Gonedua also confirmed that the search for Mr Dileqa was called off yesterday afternoon.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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