The family of Sione Tuikoro is still reeling from the news of his death after his body was found under Lautoka’s Lovu bridge on August 10.
His first cousin Stella Rabua recounted the last conversation she had with him the day before.
“We last spoke on Saturday and he said he wanted to pick his wallet from a young woman he had given it to while they were drinking the previous night,” she said.
“He was part of a group that had come for a fundraiser event on Thursday (August 7). I heard he started drinking then.
“He told me he was only going to pick his wallet from an address on Jinnu Rd at Waiyavi and that he was going to return. That was around 6pm on Saturday afternoon.”
Ms Rabua said members of the family rushed to where the body of the father-of -two was found on August 10.
“When they arrived, he was unconscious. I did try to stop him when he left the previous day in a Probox (vehicle).”
Ms Rabua said she offered to drop Tuikoro off at Waiyavi, but he declined her offer.
She said Tuikoro rarely drank excessively and most of his family members were shocked to see how much he had drunk.
“He normally has just one can then he’d sleep it off, but on that day, he was drinking and pausing every now and then to cry.
“We think he probably was drinking in town and tried to walk back home, so he might have fallen near the bridge.”
Ms Rabua said Tuikoro was a farmer and usually stayed with her whenever he travelled from Yasawa.
“He was a kind-hearted young man and a jovial person.”
She said police have informed them that a postmortem examination was being done.
“We are not sure when he will be laid to rest but those in the village have said his body will be taken to Yasawa.”
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu said potential foul play could only be confirmed after investigations were completed
Tuikoro is survived by his two children.