A mother of four is mourning the loss of her son who drowned at Natadola Beach on the Coral Coast on Sunday. Rihan Ali, a 15-year-old Year 11 student at Nadi Muslim College, tragically passed away during a family picnic.
His mother, Imrana Ali, expressed her profound grief, stating, “My world is shattered into pieces because my son whom I loved dearly has left me and gone too soon.” The incident occurred around midday while the family gathered for the outing.
Rihan’s father, Imran Ali, fondly remembered his son as a well-mannered and academically bright student. “He loved to take part in religious activities at the Mulomulo mosque,” Mr. Ali shared, adding that Rihan rarely missed school and eagerly anticipated his classes and interactions with friends.
Mrs. Ali noted that she will now have to adjust to preparing two school lunches instead of three. She recalled how Rihan had insisted on going to the picnic that morning, despite her concerns about the weather. “Since he is my second youngest, I have a soft spot for him; I just had to agree on going for the picnic as school was also about to start on Tuesday,” she said.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that Rihan was at the beach with his family when the incident took place. Rihan’s funeral was held yesterday at the Mulomulo Muslim Cemetery.