Warriors starlet Sonny Fai missing, presumed dead

[Guest]

WARRIORS player Sonny Fai is missing, presumed drowned, after a training session at Bethell's Beach in west Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday.
Fai's agent, Frank Endacott, said the player had just completed a training run on Bethell's Beach and had gone to cool off in the surf with three other people when they hit trouble in a rip.

The alarm was raised about 6pm (EDT) on Sunday, and two inflatable boats and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were scrambled to the scene.

Three of the men were rescued, but Fai remained missing when the search was called off about 10pm.

Family members and surf life savers continued the search until 1am and the helicopter resumed the search on Monday morning.

Fai has played 15 games for the Warriors since making his NRL debut in March 2008.

He was named Warriors Under-20 player of the year in 2007, and was a Junior Kiwis player from 2004 to 2007.

[Guest]

Warriors player Sonny Fai missing

NZ Warrior Presumed Drowned
January 5 2008, 11:02am
www.leaguehq.com.au

Rising New Zealand Warriors star Sonny Fai is missing, presumed drowned, at Bethells Beach, West Auckland.

His agent Frank Endacott said he understood the 20-year-old Fai had just completed a training run on the beach and had gone to cool off in the surf with three others yesterday evening.

''What we’ve heard is the four of them were going for a training run down the beach", he said.

"... they went into the surf for a dip, to cool off ... that’s where they got into trouble.

''It sounds like they've got caught in some sort of current, or rip.

''It's not looking good for Sonny Fai, not looking good at all.''

He said while rescuers managed to pull the three other men from the surf, Fai was not among them.

The alarm was raised about 8pm and two inflatable boats and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were scrambled to the scene but the search for Fai was called about off about 10pm.

The search resumed this morning but a spokesman for Westpac Rescue Helicopters said they were no longer involved with the operation.

Dean Duthie, of police search and rescue, said he understood a helicopter had flown over the area earlier today.

He was unaware of any further search and rescue operations being carried out at the beach.

Team management addressed the rest of the team today, when pre-season training officially got under way in Auckland.

Warriors management Don Mann and John Hart went to visit the Fai family this morning.

Fai made 15 appearances for the Warriors after making his debut against Paramatta last year.

A utility who signed with the Warriors as a 14-year-old, Fai has long been touted as a player of immense potential.

The 1.92m tall, 109kg Fai is contracted to the Warriors until the end of the 2010 season.

He extended his contract with the Auckland-based club last year despite reported interest from up to seven other NRL clubs.

He has represented the Junior Kiwi's since 2004, as well as representing the New Zealand Under-18's and Under-16's.

He has a fan club on social-networking site Bebo with almost 200 members.

[Guest]

WARRIORS player Sonny Fai is missing, presumed drowned, after a training session at Bethell's Beach in west Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday.
Fai's agent, Frank Endacott, said the player had just completed a training run on Bethell's Beach and had gone to cool off in the surf with three other people when they hit trouble in a rip.

The alarm was raised about 6pm (EDT) on Sunday, and two inflatable boats and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were scrambled to the scene.

Three of the men were rescued, but Fai remained missing when the search was called off about 10pm.

Family members and surf life savers continued the search until 1am and the helicopter resumed the search on Monday morning.

Fai has played 15 games for the Warriors since making his NRL debut in March 2008.

He was named Warriors Under-20 player of the year in 2007, and was a Junior Kiwis player from 2004 to 2007.

Geez, I hope he isn't. Full story can be found here: http://www.thechookpen.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=86

[Guest]

Thats really sad news....

His poor friends and family.....

[Kingbilly]

This is sad.
But "starlet" for god sake show the guy some respect, he was a fotoball player not Brittany Spears

[Guest]

Apparently he was snapped up by the Sharks!

[Guest]

poor form...

[stsae]

Apparently he was snapped up by the Sharks!

ROFLOL, its never too early in my opinion, Brilliant.

[Guest]

ROFLOL, its never too early in my opinion, Brilliant.

I thought the same thing... I actually thought that it was bad timing, but it did bring a laugh out..

Am I a bad person???

[stsae]

I thought the same thing... I actually thought that it was bad timing, but it did bring a laugh out..

Am I a bad person???

Werry werry bad man, werry werry bad.