A father of two tragically lost his life while attempting to assist a man in salvaging belongings from his burning house in Nadroumai Village, Nadroga, on Monday afternoon. Mesake Lalai, 47, reportedly collapsed inside the residence as he worked to retrieve items from one of the rooms.
The house, which belonged to the Methodist Church, was occupied by Paula Labalabala, a steward of the church. Labalabala expressed that Lalai’s dedication to both the church and the community was profound. “He lost his life in an act of love,” he stated, adding that Lalai always contributed his utmost to the church and would readily offer his assistance in community efforts.
According to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, Lalai was promptly taken to Sigatoka Hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival. “Investigations are ongoing, and a post-mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death,” she noted.
The Fiji Police Force has reported an increase in fire incidents recently and is advising homeowners to take necessary precautions to identify and rectify fire hazards in and around their properties.
Lalai is survived by his wife, Unaisi, and their two children. His eldest son, Mitieli Navure, is a rugby player for the Ratu Kadavulevu School Under 14 team, which is scheduled to compete this Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. A funeral service for Lalai is planned for next week.