RESIDENTS of Nadre Settlement in Vitogo, Lautoka were still in shock yesterday when news of the discovery of a partly decomposed body was found metres away from their homes on Saturday afternoon.
The body — confirmed by police to be of an iTaukei man believed to be in his 40s — was found in a densely covered ditch along the Kings Highway just a few metres from the Vitogo Police Post at about 4pm.
It was discovered by Nadre Settlement resident Savenaca Seru who was returning from cutting grass at a nearby residence.
“I had been passing that area for a few days and had noticed the foul smell,” said Mr Seru.
“I kept thinking it was an animal, like a dog or a small cow.
“When I was returning home from a job, I noticed a dog smelling the area. So, I stopped to take a closer look.”
Mr Seru said what he found was stuff of nightmares.
“The first thing I saw were blue jeans. Then I saw an arm. That’s when I realised it was a person.”
He said he went home to drop his equipment before returning with two other men.
“I told them I think I found a person dead near the roadside.
“So we split up and started walking through the grass.
“They got to the spot first and I just saw them jump back and put their hands over their nose because of the smell.
“That’s when we ran to the police post to report what we found.”
Mr Seru said he believed the body may have been in the ditch for close to a week.
“From what we saw, the body was covered in maggots, and we could not really tell if he had any injuries because of how badly decomposed it was.
“It’s sad because he’s body was just left there.”
He added police also retrieved shards of material believed to be from a car.
Meanwhile, police said the identity of the man was yet to be determined as investigations into the cause of death continue.
