57-year-old man from Tonga, which was swept away by waves after a volcanic eruption on Saturday, has been called "real" on social media. Aquamen".

At least three people have died after the volcano erupted Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai, which triggered a devastating tsunami that damaged many villages and towns and cut off communication.

Lisala Folau, who lives on a small isolated island Atata with about 60 inhabitants, was performing its daily duties at the time of the tsunami. At around 19 pm, huge waves came and took him to the sea, writes The Guardian.

Folau said he had fled his home despite his brother warning him of a tsunami, and shortly afterwards, waves flooded his house.

First he climbed a tree

He climbed a tree to avoid the first wave, but when it came down, the second big wave took him away. He otherwise had a problem with his legs and could not walk properly.

"I was just floating, the big waves were throwing me around and they kept coming," he said.

He added that he later managed to swim 7,5km to the main island of Tongatapua, reaching the coast 27 hours later - around 22pm on Sunday.

Folau's success story went viral on local Facebook groups and other social networks.

"He's a real Aquaman," one Facebook user wrote, referring to a comic book and movie character.

Atta Island, about 8 miles (XNUMX km) northwest of the capital Tonga, was almost completely destroyed in the tsunami.

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