A father of two tragically died while attempting to assist a man in salvaging belongings from a house that was engulfed in flames in Nadroumai Village, Nadroga, on Monday afternoon. Mesake Lalai, 47, reportedly collapsed inside the home as he was trying to remove items from one of the rooms.
The property, which belongs to the Methodist Church, is currently occupied by Paula Labalabala, a steward of the church. Labalabala praised Mr. Lalai’s dedication to the church and the community, stating, “He lost his life in an act of love. He always gave his best for the church.” He highlighted Mr. Lalai’s willingness to contribute to church activities and community efforts.
According to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, Mr. Lalai was quickly taken to Sigatoka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. She noted that investigations are ongoing, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Naisoro also reminded the public that there have been several fire incidents reported recently and urged homeowners to take precautions by checking for fire hazards around their properties.
Mr. Lalai is survived by his wife, Unaisi, and their two children. His eldest son, Mitieli Navure, is set to play rugby for the Ratu Kadavulevu School Under 14 team this Saturday at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The funeral is scheduled for next week.