Neori Vuidreketi Makoto has one hope: for his younger brother, Semi Lete Makoto, to come back home to his family.
Semi Makoto, 24, passed away in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Aspen Hospital in Lautoka following an accident last week.
Semi worked at Burger King in Martintar, Nadi. He was involved in a road accident while riding his bike from his home in Malolo, Nadi, to work when he was struck by a bus near his workplace.
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu stated that police are investigating the incident.
A witness, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed the bus was traveling at high speed when it hit Semi. “The man was not wearing a helmet. He must have had a serious head injury just by the distance to where he was hit and the place he had landed,” said the witness.
Neori Makoto recounted his initial reaction upon hearing that his brother had been rushed to the hospital, expecting it to be a minor injury. “But when I came to the hospital, I was shocked to see the condition he was in. He was in a coma. The whole of last week I kept on going to the ICU and hoping that he would open his eyes and we could speak to each other again,” he said.
“The doctors kept updating us about his condition until they declared that he was brain dead. Last week, we were told to come and say our last goodbye to him. All I wish for was if he can recover again and take care of his small family. He has one child who is a year old.”
Neori shared that his brother had been saving money with the dream of buying land and farming. Semi was the youngest of three siblings and was known for his hardworking nature. “He is a very quiet person. He doesn’t speak much but the work that he does speaks a lot about him. He is a hardworking person. We are very close to each other. I miss my brother,” he said.