THE family of Peni Nabanivalu is still reeling from his sudden death last Sunday.
Mr Nabanivalu and his wife, Seini, died of fish poisoning at Namunamu settlement in Mataso, Ra.
In an interview at the Lautoka Hospital mortuary yesterday, Mr Nabanivalu’s elder brother, Waisiki Masirewa, said the couple had eaten the eggs of a puffer fish.
Their teenage daughter, who also ate the fish, was admitted to the Lautoka Aspen Hospital.
“The fish was caught from a nearby river by our younger sibling to be food for our dog,” Mr Masirewa said.
“Unfortunately, Peni did not eat the fish flesh, but instead ate the eggs of the puffer fish.
“Both of them ate the puffer fish, and their daughter ate some parts of it as well.”
Mr Masirewa said the family ate the fish for dinner at around 9pm on Sunday.
“Within an hour, by 10pm, it started to take its toll on them. They began vomiting.
“We rushed them to the hospital, but when we reached there, both of them had died.”
Mr Masirewa said losing his younger brother, who had been a source of strength for him, was a painful experience.
“Everything I tell Peni, he would do it.
“Whenever we’d come across a problem at home, I would be at ease because I knew he’d be around to help.”
Mr Nabanivalu and his wife will be buried on Friday, while their daughter remains admitted at the hospital.
Inset: Peni Nabanivalu, left.
Picture: SUPPLIED
