A father of two tragically lost his life while attempting to assist a man in retrieving belongings from a burning house in Nadroumai Village, Nadroga, on Monday afternoon. Mesake Lalai, 47, reportedly collapsed inside the home as he worked to save items from one of the rooms.
The residence belongs to the Methodist Church and is home to Paula Labalabala, a steward of the church. Labalabala expressed that Mr. Lalai’s dedication to the church and the community was profound, stating, “He lost his life in an act of love.” He added that Lalai was always ready to contribute his efforts to church activities and community matters.
According to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, Lalai was transported to Sigatoka Hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival. She mentioned that investigations are ongoing, and a post-mortem examination will be performed to determine the cause of death. The Fiji Police Force has also reported an increase in fire incidents recently and is urging homeowners to take preventative measures to address fire hazards in and around their properties.
Mesake 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 the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The funeral is scheduled for next week.