Three families and the community of Nanuku settlement are in a state of shock today after four people from the area drowned in waters near Vatuwaqa over the weekend.
Two brothers, Monish Prasad and Sachin Prasad, 16-year-old Avishek Kumar and 19-year-old Sahil Kumar drowned in the tragic incident.
Avishek’s body was recovered on Sunday while the bodies of Monish, Sachin and Sahil were found yesterday off the Nanuku settlement industrial area.
Monish and Sachin’s guardian Ram Dutt said he was looking after them after their father’s death three years ago.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed 19-year-old Sahil Kumar was swept away by strong currents with the other two.
Naisoro said that three students, two aged 16 years and one aged 14 years were swimming and called out for help when they were being swept away by strong currents on Sunday.
The two aged 20 and 19 years who were fishing, attempted to rescue the three students who were calling out for assistance.
In the process, the two were also swept away along with one of the 16-year-old students.
A 14-year-old managed to swim to shore however his 16-year-old friend’s body was recovered by neighbours yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the mother of 19-year-old Sahil Kumar,said her son did not know how to swim.
Lakshmi Kumar told Fijivillage that Sahil had told her that he was going to repair a generator in the neighborhood.
The 40-year-old father, whose son Avishek’s body was found in Vatuwaqa on Sunday afternoon, said he saw his 16-year-old son at home while he was going out to cut grass.
Salendra Kumar said when he returned home at around 4pm, he was relayed the news that his son had drowned and his neighbours had taken his body to the CWM Hospital.
Kumar said they never allowed their children to go out to sea alone.
He also said his son had told his wife that he was going out to play soccer with his friends.
