A MAN is dead while three others – including a seven-year-old – are missing after a fishing trip on Sunday afternoon went terribly wrong.
The trio were accompanied by Basant Singh whose body was recovered by police yesterday.
Survivor Abdul Ashif Hakh said weather was “fine” when they left the mainland but a sudden change a few hours later forced the crew to abandon their fiberglass boat.
He said the group left Saweni Beach at around 2.30pm heading towards Cakaulevu – a popular fishing spot behind Vio Island.
Also on board and still missing are Imraz Zain Iqbal, Junaid Ali Shah, and his seven-year-old nephew Arshad Irfan Khan.
“It was clear weather, but at half past seven, suddenly the weather changed,” Mr Hakh said. “We all jumped in the water before the boat went down.”
He said he threw a life jacket to his seven-year-old nephew before the two drifted apart. He said after swimming for hours, he found a shallow part of the reef where he was able to call out for help.
“I couldn’t hear any of them.” He said he was rescued by a passing boat.
“We started searching for the other four, but we couldn’t find them, so we returned to Lautoka. Then I went to report to the Lautoka Police Station.
“Some of the fishing boats are still at sea searching for them. Last night they went out three times, and today they spent a whole day searching. I am praying to God that we find them alive.”
