12 January, 2026, 4:55 am Central - 22°C Rain

Mourning mother didn’t know her son was going to the swimming pool

Mourning mother didn’t know her son was going to the swimming pool

Parents of the 14-year-old Joshua Pamatag who drowned in the Suva Olympic Pool yesterday

The family of 14-year-old Joshua Pamatag who drowned in the Suva Olympic Pool on Saturday is still trying to come to terms with his death.

Pamatag’s mother, Aranga Neneia says Pamatag’s friends visited them on Friday and asked to go out with Pamatag to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

Neneia says she thought they will go to a restaurant and did not know that Pamatag and his friends will be going to Suva Olympic Pool.

She says they never allowed their son to go for picnics or even swimming on his own however he knew how to swim.

She adds that Pamatag was known in the family as a hero as he was always helping everyone in the family and the community.

Police say the Year 8 student was last seen sitting on the edge of the swimming pool before he disappeared.

He was later found motionless underwater.

Attempts were made to revive him but it proved futile and was rushed to the CWM Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police investigations continue.

FEATURE NEWS
IWA seeks answers on delayed report into CWM Ante-Natal clinic leak
International Women’s Association Fiji President, Judy Compain, is calling on the Ministry of Health on how long it will take for them to investig...
12 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
From prison walls to graduating at FNU : Aisea Toribau to appear on fijivillage Straight Talk
From the walls of prison to graduating at the Fiji National University - Aisea Toribau will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at ...
11 hours ago

Flood waters affect bus services to Qauia
Due to heavy rainfall, the Qauia Bridge is currently flooded, and for safety reasons, the Qauia Bus Service will not enter Qauia Village until the ...
11 hours ago

Dozens arrested and one police officer injured in Minneapolis protests
At least 29 people have been arrested in Minneapolis during protests over the death of a woman who was shot by a US Immigration and Customs ...
12 hours ago

EFL Customer Care Centre in Namoli House temporarily closed
The Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) Customer Care Centre in Namoli House, Lautoka will be temporarily closed until further notice due to a recent fire ...
12 hours ago

Lautoka Town Council acts on illegal dumping in Wairabetia and Saweni Top
Following successful enforcement action against illegal dumping along Savu Street in Lautoka, Litter Prevention Officers have once again identified ...
12 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Electricity tariff increase for users consuming more than 100 units
There is an increase in the electricity tariff rate for consumers using more than 100 units from 1 January next year.Fijian Competition and Consumer ...
10 days ago

Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States remains deeply concerned about indicators of trans-national organised crime and human trafficking in Fiji associated with the Grace ...
21 days ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
21 days ago

TOP