A New Zealand family's holiday in Samoa turned to tragedy when a flash flood swept six people away.
One teenager drowned and another family member was missing last night as searchers scoured the river.
Four others were rescued and were last night recovering in hospital.
It is understood the family arrived from New Zealand only a day earlier and were enjoying a swim in the Vaisigano River, in the island nation's capital Apia, yesterday afternoon.
But a sudden burst of water swept the family down river.
A boy who had been sitting near the river bank told the Samoa Observer newspaper he was shocked at what he saw.
"I thought it was a doll ... it wasn't until I walked closer to the rocks that I saw it was a person."
The boy called to another person nearby for help, and they pulled the person - a young woman they thought was in her late teens - from the water.
They tried to help her, but it was too late.
The man who helped recover the body told the newspaper: "She was already dead when I got to her. I called out to my friend to call the police.
"She looked young - about 19. It was so sad."
Four other family members were taken to Upolu island's main hospital Moto'otua Hospital in Apia.
Last night they were being treated in the hospital and comforted by extended family. Meanwhile, patrol boats were scouring the murky river for signs of the missing person.
Police would not to comment when contacted by the Herald last night, saying officers were still at the scene carrying out their investigations.
Other officers were at the hospital, understood to be questioning members of the family.
A doctor at the hospital confirmed the family were holidaying from New Zealand.
"The family's from New Zealand - they're here for vacation. They are Samoan, but they don't live here."
The Vaisigano River is notorious for its unpredictable nature.
Running through Apia - past famous Aggie Grey's resort on the capital's main street - it can some days be completely dry and at other times it can cause flash floods which overflow onto the city's main road.
- Vaimoana Tapaleao
