A mother of four is mourning the loss of her son after he drowned at Natadola Beach, Coral Coast, on Sunday. The victim, 15-year-old Rihan Ali, was a Year 11 student at Nadi Muslim College.
His mother, Imrana Ali, expressed her heartbreak, saying, “My world is shattered into pieces because my son whom I loved dearly has left me and gone too soon.”
The tragedy occurred around midday while the family was enjoying a picnic at the beach. Rihan’s father, Imran Ali, described his son as well-behaved and a bright student who actively participated in religious activities at the Mulomulo mosque. “He rarely missed school and always looked forward to his classes and seeing his friends,” Mr. Ali added. He highlighted Rihan’s respectfulness toward elders and noted that he had received awards for exemplifying strong religious values at school.
Mrs. Ali reflected on their picnic plans, mentioning that Rihan had insisted on going, despite her concerns about the changing 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 Rihan was with his family during the picnic when the incident occurred. The young boy’s funeral was held yesterday at the Mulomulo Muslim Cemetery.