A distraught family in Lautoka is pleading for assistance and has offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who can help locate 36-year-old Imraz Zain Iqbal and 7-year-old Arshad Irfan Khan, who went missing on Sunday in waters off the Covuli Reef in Saweni, Lautoka.
The two were travelling in a fibreglass boat with three others when it capsized on Sunday night.
Police confirm that one of the passengers managed to swim safely to shore, while the body of the 66-year-old boat owner was later found floating near the reef.
While speaking to fijivillage News at the Lautoka Wharf, Imraz’s father, Mohammed Iqbal, says the family is holding on to hope that his son and young Arshad are still alive.
He says Imraz gave Arshad a life jacket before the boat capsized, and the family believes this increases their chances of survival.
Arshad is the son of Imraz’s sister’s brother-in-law.
Iqbal says both grandmothers are extremely distressed and have been crying constantly since the incident.
He describes his son as a responsible man who does not smoke or consume alcohol or kava.
The family says the boat captain was a relative, and the group had left at 2.30pm for a fishing trip and were expected to return by 10pm.
When they did not return, the family was informed by the survivor, and the search immediately began.
Mohammed Iqbal is appealing to all seafarers in the area to keep watch in case the two are still drifting at sea and can be rescued.
Police continue the search.
