A 10-YEAR-old boy has been hailed a hero for saving a six-year-old from drowning in the Saqani River when the younger lad fell off a makeshift bridge at Lakeba Village three weeks ago.
The incident has prompted villagers to make yet another plea to Government to build a proper bridge to replace the makeshift crossing which is made of palm trees and wood that are tied with ropes.
Jimi Taura, a Year 1 student at the Saqani District School, is the latest to fall from the makeshift bridge.
He was following three of his older cousins to the other side of the village when he tripped and fell from the crossing.
He said he did not know how to swim and was beginning to drown when his cousin, Setareki Duguvanua, jumped in to save him.
Setareki said a splash in the water made him turn back only to see Jimi struggling in the river.
Village headman Mosese Tuvaiwale said this was one of the many accidents that had occurred on the bridge.
Mr Tuvaiwale said despite several requests and consultations with Government, there had been no assistance.
He said the bridge linked Biaugunu and Natuvu villages to Lakeba where the school, health centre and post office were located.
Mr Tuvaiwale said this was a worrying situation because some had been badly injured in similar incidents before.
Commissioner Northern Jovesa Vocea said he was aware that a team had inspected the bridge two years ago.
He added a team from the Department of Environment would visit there to gauge the effects of climate change and they would also inspect the bridge.
