VITIFM's iconic personality, Maikeli Radua passes away after tragic road accident

Maikeli Radua, one of the pioneers of Communications Fiji Limited's iTaukei language speaking stations, VITIFM has passed away after a tragic car accident in Nadera yesterday afternoon.

Police say Radua who was residing in Kinoya, is believed to have lost control of his vehicle causing it to veer off the road, whereby he sustained injuries.

He was rushed to the Valelevu Health Centre by bystanders where several attempts made by medical officials to revive him were unsuccessful.

Investigators will await the post mortem examination results to confirm Radua’s cause of death.

Communications Fiji Limited waited for the family to inform their close relatives before releasing this tragic news.

@fijivillage.com VITIFM's iconic personality, Maikeli Radua passes away after tragic road accident #fiji #fyp #cfl #vitifm ♬ original sound - fijivillage

CFL Chair, William Parkinson says this has come as a terrible shock to the entire CFL family and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Parkinson says Maikeli was a presence on radio in Fiji for nearly 30 years, starting in the very early days of VITIFM and working his way up to leading the VITIFM team for a period and being an amazing presence on radio and social media.

Parkinson says we will all miss Maikeli.

"We are just recalling all the different catchwords and phrases he had with each individual around the organisation. And I imagine across the country there are so many people who will be grieving today as they think about him. His humour was legendary. He had fans ranging from presidents to rugby players to market vendors. It really went right through the nation and across the world with the Fiji diaspora. His jokes which he told perhaps too often sometimes, over and over again, but they were famous jokes that were very good jokes and they were worth repeating. The numerous times he did tell them and I think they will go on for a long, long time as a legacy to him. There were songs written about him, so, I mean there was so much that he contributed. But I think the most important thing we need to remember in these times of sorrow is that he brought a lot of joy and pleasure to people's lives. And I think that's the way he would like to be remembered. So we will miss you Maikeli. We really will miss you. Rest in peace and don't worry, we'll be looking after your family."

CFL General Manager, Charles Taylor says Maikeli was a big part of the success of VITIFM, having been there from its early days.

Taylor says Maikeli was very well-liked by our listeners and online followers.

He says the team at CFL are overcome with shock at the news of his passing and our heartfelt sympathy and thoughts are with his wife, Maria and the family right now.

Maikeli was 50 years old.

His funeral details are yet to be confirmed.

Rest In Peace Mike.