19 Aug 2019

Search continues for missing teens in American Samoa

6:23 pm on 19 August 2019

The search is continuing for American Samoa cousins Alex Peric and Anthony Leota, who disappeared off Utumea Beach yesterday afternoon.

Alex Peric and Anthony Leota

Alex Peric and Anthony Leota Photo: RNZ Pacific / Monica Miller

Overnight the Coast Guard cutter, Joseph Gerczak, continued to search for the pair.

Today, divers from the Department of Public Safety have been searching, as have volunteer divers.

April Peric Saifoloi, sister of Alex, spent the night at the beach. She said her missing brother was the second youngest of eight children.

The boys were attending a youth camp for their church, and were at Utumea for a baptism and a barbecue to end the camp, Ms Peric Saifoloi said.