A father of two tragically lost his life while trying to assist a man in rescuing belongings from a fire in Nadroumai Village, Nadroga, on Monday afternoon. Mesake Lalai, aged 47, reportedly collapsed in the home as he attempted to salvage items from one of the rooms.
The house, which is owned by the Methodist Church, is currently occupied by Paula Labalabala, a steward of the church. Labalabala expressed that Lalai’s dedication to the church and the community was profound. “He lost his life in an act of love,” he stated, highlighting Lalai’s willingness to go above and beyond for the church. He noted that Lalai was often the first to offer his assistance with church activities and community work.
According to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, Lalai was transported to Sigatoka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. “Investigations are ongoing, and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” she confirmed. Naisoro also mentioned that there have been multiple fire incidents reported recently, prompting the Fiji Police Force to advise property owners to take proactive measures to identify and address fire hazards around their homes.
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 side this Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The funeral service for Lalai is scheduled for next week.