The long wait is over for former All Blacks and Highlanders midfielder Malakai Fekitoa – his mother is “safe and sound”.
Like many Tongans overseas, Fekitoa has been waiting anxiously on news from family members after the devastating tsunami that followed the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano.
Although he had made contact with his sisters, Fekitoa had not heard from his mother on the island of Ha’apai where Fekitoa grew up.
However, he has finally received the news he had been waiting for. “Update from Tonga,” Fekitoa wrote on social media. “I just spoke to my mum on a satellite phone. She’s ok and everyone back home are safe and sound.”
The 29-year-old now plays his rugby for Wasps in the UK, and previously told the club’s website that his distance from the islands and communication issues after the volcano left him feeling anxious and helpless.
”The last time I spoke to my mum was Monday [before the tsunami],” Fekitoa said. “Hopefully we’ll hear from them soon.
”Honestly, it’s been really, really tough trying to speak to my family, trying to call my mum, and also watching the news at the same time.
”It’s one of the most difficult times I’ve had in a very long time. It’s been tough, sleepless at times in some nights. It’s very hard to cope not knowing what’s happening out there.
“Every time I get time off from training I get my phone and start ringing…obviously nothing in the past few days.”
Fekitoa lost his father as a teenager and has 14 siblings, and told the Wasps website that his mother, two sisters, two brothers and nephew and nieces all remained on the island of Ha’apai.
He has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the Tonga relief effort. By Thursday, that page had raised £53,000 ($106,000).
Wasps have also committed to helping Fekitoa’s fundraising efforts.
“As we await more news, the club has decided to support Malakai’s fundraising efforts by donating 20 per cent of all match ticket revenue from our Saracens match on Sunday January 30 to the GoFundMe page which has been set up by Malakai to help get aid to where it is needed most,” Wasps chief executive Stephen Vaughan said in a statement.
World Rugby has also offered its help to helping Tonga rebuild after the tsunami.
Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We stand in solidarity with the people of Tonga, the Tonga rugby family and Tongans around the world at this difficult time.
Moana Pasifika have already dedicated their pre-season game against the Chiefs on February 4 to raise money for Tonga, although the country’s move to Red settings to combat Covid-19 means that fans will not be able to attend the match at Mt Smart Stadium.
