A mother of four is mourning the tragic loss of her son, Rihan Ali, who drowned at Natadola Beach on the Coral Coast on Sunday. The 15-year-old, a Year 11 student at Nadi Muslim College, was enjoying a family picnic when the incident occurred around midday.
His mother, Imrana Ali, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “My world is shattered into pieces because my son whom I loved dearly has left me and gone too soon.”
Rihan’s father, Imran Ali, remembered his son as a well-behaved and promising student. “He loved to take part in religious activities at the Mulomulo mosque,” Mr. Ali noted, adding that Rihan was diligent about attending school and looked forward to classes and his friends. He highlighted that Rihan was respectful to his elders and had received awards for demonstrating strong religious values at school.
Mrs. Ali reflected on the picnic plans, saying Rihan had insisted on going 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, now faced with the painful reality of preparing two school lunches instead of three.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that the victim was with his family during the picnic when the drowning occurred. Rihan’s funeral was held at the Mulomulo Muslim Cemetery yesterday.