WHILE many around the country were commemorating Resurrection Sunday, four children of Votua Village in Ba, received the painful news in church that their father and sole breadwinner, Gaberieli Walu, had died while collecting mussels.
Mr Walu is believed to have drowned while attempting to cross the Ba River on Saturday.
The tragic incident has left, Eneriko Qoro, 18, Kelera Ramoce, 14, Amelia Droka, 10, and Adrea Seru, 9, without both parents as they had also endured the loss of their mother, Alesia Makavu, last year.
Speaking to this newspaper in Votua Village in Ba yesterday, Mr Walu’s sister-in-law Katarina Bari said their family was prepared to provide the necessary support to the victim’s children.
“It is a sad moment for our family, especially Walu’s (victim) children who are without a father and their mother had also passed away last year,” Ms Bari said.
“I thank God for a useful life that he has called to rest, and we will continue to ensure that these children are given the care and support that was left behind by their father.”
According to Ms Bari, the victim who is an employee of Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), had left their house in Votua at around 10am to collect sea mussels from the Ba River.
The victim’s body was found around mid-day yesterday as police continued their investigation into the incident.
