Neori Vuidreketi Makoto has a single wish: for his younger brother, Semi Lete Makoto, to return home to his family.
Semi Makoto, 24, succumbed to injuries in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Aspen Hospital in Lautoka following an accident last week.
Semi was an employee at Burger King in Martintar, Nadi. The accident occurred while he was 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 confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.
A witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, alleged that the bus was traveling at high speed when it hit Semi. “The man was not wearing a helmet. He must have sustained a serious head injury given the distance between where he was hit and where he ended up,” the witness said.
Neori Makoto initially thought his brother’s injury was minor upon hearing the news. “But when I arrived at the hospital, I was shocked to see his condition. He was in a coma. The whole of last week, I kept visiting the ICU, hoping he would open his eyes and we could talk again,” he said.
“The doctors kept updating us about his condition until they declared him brain dead. Last week, we were told to come and say our final goodbyes to him.”
Neori expressed his wish for his brother’s recovery and mentioned that Semi had a one-year-old child. Semi had been saving money with dreams of buying land and starting a farm. He was the youngest of three siblings and was described as a hardworking individual.
“He is very quiet and doesn’t speak much, but his work speaks volumes about him. We were very close. I miss my brother,” Neori shared.