‘Treasured’ Samoan man, 22, who drowned at a Perth beach is identified – as his heartbroken family prepare to fly his body home

A young Samoan man who drowned at an Australian beach had only recently moved to Perth to help his brother’s family as they settled into their new home. 

Sio Afamasaga, 22, was swimming with his brother, sister-in-law and their children at Perth’s City Beach on Friday to celebrate the last day of his Christmas holidays.

Mr Afamasaga became caught in a rip about 12.45pm alongside another man – who was safely pulled to shore.

A Surf Life Saving WA helicopter spotted Mr Afamasaga in the water and brought him to shore where paramedics performed CPR.

He was then rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital condition, 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 as they settled in their new home.

‘He was living with us and worked with my husband (Pita) to help his family back home and help us with rent and stuff,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

As the majority of Mr Afamasaga’s family is in Samoa, they want to return his body home ‘as soon as possible’ but do not have the savings for the expensive trip. 

‘It was so unexpected and we weren’t ready. We don’t have the money but his family wants him back home so they can say their final goodbyes,’ Ms Afamasaga said.

‘The cost for this is very expensive, over $10,000. Then there’s paying for medical costs and for my husband to travel with him.’

Mr Afamasaga’s older brother, Pita Afamasaga, said he was ‘treasured’ by his family. 

‘My parents and family aspire to send his body home to Samoa so they can properly pay their respects,’ he wrote in a post on GoFundMe. 

‘He was their youngest and most treasured child.’

Mr Afamasaga’s brother, Pita, created the GoFundMe campaign on Saturday in the hopes of raising enough money for the repatriation flight.

‘Sadly we do not have the necessary funds to send him back Home to Samoa as this was an unexpected accident and we were not prepared,’ he said. 

‘We humbly ask for donations to help cover the costs of funeral director, my flight and medication to preserve his body during the journey. Much appreciate anything you can afford and thanks for your support.’

Pita Afamasaga had hoped to talk about his brother but was too distressed to be interviewed by Daily Mail Australia. 

Ms Afamasaga said the family had gone to City Beach ‘to have some fun’ but instead suffered a ‘devastating beginning of 2025’.

‘It’s very hard and that’s why we’re trying our best to take him home. He is the youngest and his parents are very sad about the news,’ she said. 

WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.