JOSEVA Andrea narrowly escaped major injuries after he safely crossed a bridge at Vunayasi in Nadi on Monday minutes before it collapsed.
The Dratabu villager said he had crossed the bridge after returning from his farmhouse.
“I was returning from the farm yesterday and by the time I reached the bridge, the water was already touching it,” Andrea said.
“I was blessed that my car was able to cross for me to go home.
“I went home and returned, but by then the road was closed, and I saw that the bridge had collapsed.”
In another incident, four members of a family crossing the bridge in a vehicle also escaped serious injuries when the vehicle fell into the river as the bridge collapsed.
Ben Latu, who helped the family, said the incident happened as he was returning from work.
“They swam to safety and then jumped up onto the bridge,” Latu said.
“My cousin jumped in and helped the driver out of the car, floated with her and helped her reach the riverbank.
“This bridge was built in 1958. We heard it was built by the FSC, but we are not sure.”
