Popular radio personality Maikeli Radua was excited to meet his grandson less than a day before he passed away in a car accident in Nadera, Nasinu over the weekend.
After spending hours at the Valalevu Health Centre where her husband was pronounced dead, grieving wife Maria Radua recalled how the 51-year-old was looking forward to bringing the newborn to their home in Kinoya.
“He was so excited to meet his grandson,” said Mrs Radua.
“He was born on Thursday night and our son, Jone, had come home and wanted his father to be the first to see his grandson.
“At the hospital on Friday we met him, and ‘Ta’ (dad) immediately wanted to carry him and hold him the whole time we were there.
“We ended up having a little argument about who’s turn it was to carry our grandson.”
Mrs Radua said her last conversation with her husband was over the phone.
“He had gone to do an outside broadcast in Nausori. On his way back he was talking about the condition of the road and the heavy rain. I just told him to drive carefully in the rain,” she said.
A police report on the accident revealed Mr Radua’s car had veered off the road at Nadera on Saturday afternoon. Police investigations continue into the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, tributes for the 51-year-old poured onto social media yesterday as news of his passing reached close family, friends and colleagues.
Mr Radua was the head of the VitiFM radio station with Communications Fiji Ltd.
The Nakelo, Tailevu, native is survived by his wife, four children and one grandchild.
