Kaliova Selei and Tagiyaco Vakaloloma spent Father’s Day at Navilawa Village in Sabeto, Nadi on Sunday unaware that it would be the last time they would be around close family and relatives.
Hours later after the family get-together, the couple allegedly drowned along the Navilawa River after being swept by strong currents.
According to relatives, the couple was accompanied by an elderly relative who was also swept away but managed to get to safety. The man was admitted at the Nadi Hospital.
On Monday, following a search by police and villagers from Navilawa, Korobebe and Nagado, the body of Ms Vakaloloma was recovered while Mr Selei remained missing.
Yesterday, the search party was joined by Mr Selei’s elder sister, Mereilisoni Tuine, who found a blue vest belonging to the 33-year-old on Monday afternoon.
“We’ve been searching for him since Sunday,” said Ms Tuine. “We are moving down the river right up to the highway and to the mouth of the river near Lomolomo.
“Still nothing.”
Ms Tuine said her brother and sister-in-law had spent their Sunday celebrating Father’s Day at their home in Navilawa.
“They usually come to Navilawa for the weekend and return home to Legalega on Sunday afternoon.
“I have been looking for him hoping we can find him.”
Meanwhile, tributes for the young couple poured in on social media with relatives praying for closure for their close family.
According to close family members, the couple were planning to celebrate their 11-month-old son Navunilagi Walobi Botitu’s birthday next month.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on Ms Vakaloloma later this week as police investigations continue.
