Neori Vuidreketi Makoto has a single wish: for his younger brother, Semi Lete Makoto, to return 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 was an employee at Burger King located in Martintar, Nadi.
The accident occurred while Semi was riding his bike from his home in Malolo, Nadi, to work. He was struck by a bus near his workplace. Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu confirmed that the case is under investigation.
A witness who chose to remain anonymous claimed that 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 because of the distance between where he was hit and where he landed,” the witness said.
Neori Makoto explained that when he first heard his brother was rushed to the hospital, he assumed it was 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 visiting the ICU hoping 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 could recover again and take care of his small family. He has one child who is a year old.”
Neori noted that his brother had been saving money with dreams of buying land and starting a farm. The victim was the youngest of three siblings.
Neori described his brother as a hardworking individual. “He was a very quiet person. He didn’t speak much, but the work he did spoke volumes about him. We are very close to each other. I miss my brother,” he shared.