Rugby player, 28, dies after getting sucked into whirlpool while cooling off from heat wave in California river

A rugby subordinate died aft being sucked into a whirlpool arsenic he tried to cool disconnected successful nan blistering power wave. 

Nasoni 'Toni' Tuitoga, 28, of Santa Rosa, went missing connected Wednesday aft going for a aquatics pinch friends successful California's Russian River. 

Before getting successful nan water, Toni made a chilling station connected Facebook that read: 'Rivering,' pinch laughing and crying emojis. The station is now filled pinch heartfelt tributes for him. 

Toni, a personnel of nan Santa Rosa Rugby Club, ne'er made it retired arsenic his hopeless friends watched him spell successful circles arsenic nan beardown currents pulled him under. 

He is 1 of aggregate group that person drowned successful nan authorities arsenic 3 others were recovered lifeless successful rivers complete nan past week. 

Tributes person since poured successful for nan athlete. His heartbroken mother recalled nan infinitesimal constabulary came to her doorway and told her that her youngest boy had died.  

'They put his cellphone connected nan array and past I conscionable started crying. I knew,' Lavenia Cavora Tuinaceva Tuitoga told KTVU. 

'I’m going to miss him truthful much, his smile,' she added. 

'I conscionable support connected asking God to springiness america bid successful our hearts.' 

Toni's friend Joe Quaihoi called 911 astir 6.17pm connected Wednesday and reported he had vanished successful nan stream adjacent Villa Grande. 

 Quaihoi said: 'The crazy portion was we were for illustration yelling retired astatine him erstwhile we saw him swimming astir successful circles like, "Hey, you ok?" and he ne'er really said thing backmost until he conscionable vanished nether nan water.'

Quaihoi and Toni's different friends joined the Sonoma County Sheriff's Marine Unit, Sonoma County Sheriff Volunteer Dive Team and nan Monte Rio Fire Protection District who were moving to find him. 

Search crews recovered his assemblage connected Friday, washed up astir 30-40ft from wherever he was past seen. 

The Santa Rosa Rugby Club besides paid tribute to Toni connected Saturday pinch a station of him smiling connected nan field. 

'It’s a sad time successful our rugby community. We mislaid 1 of our players this week, Tony (Nasoni Tuitoga Jr) and our squad won’t beryllium nan aforesaid without his energy. 

'Our condolence and prayers spell retired to his family and loved ones,' nan nine said. 

Others commented connected nan abrupt nonaccomplishment of a man who seemed to effect galore successful his life. 

One said: 'Always a awesome grin and laughter!' 

'RIP my brotha,' different wrote. 

Just a time aft Toni was found, different man, 51-year-old Pedro Ramirez Lopez, drowned astatine Monte Rio Beach, located adjacent nan Russian River. 

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office were called astir 6.40pm and erstwhile officials arrived, bystanders were performing CPR connected Lopez, who died astatine nan scene. 

'Multiple group person died successful nan Russian River successful 2024,' nan sheriff's agency said. 

'While it looks calm connected nan surface, nan stream tin person beardown currents, heavy spots and drop-offs, and underwater debris.

'We impulse everyone to believe h2o information erstwhile they sojourn our beautiful river.' 

On Tuesday, different man drowned successful nan Modesto Reservoir, astir 3 hours from nan Russian River. 

A 15-year-old boy was killed successful a akin drowning successful April arsenic he and a friend were swept distant successful surging currents. The teen's friend managed to escape, Sfist reported. 

When caught successful unsmooth currents aliases a whirlpool, officials urge that swimmers paddle successful nan guidance its going in, and not to conflict it.

Although California and astir of nan region person already been deed pinch scorching weather, states are expected to group higher regular grounds temperatures this week. 

Many group person died aliases been earnestly injured successful nan basking weather, arsenic an babe died while connected a vessel pinch her family successful Arizona connected Friday. 

A motorcyclist died connected Saturday successful Death Valley from power exposure, nan Death Valley National Park said.