The Delai family is grieving the tragic loss of their son, 18-month-old Ratu Manueli Ligari Delai, who died in an accident outside their home in Naitonitoni, Navua, five days ago.
Last Sunday, Ratu Manueli was reportedly struck by a vehicle in the family’s driveway. His mother, Serai Tinai, 34, recounted that she was cooking around 9 a.m. when she heard a loud noise outside. She alleged that the vehicle did not stop following the incident.
Together with her husband, Apimeleki Delai, 47, they rushed their son to Navua Hospital, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead upon arrival. Mr. Delai expressed the unbearable pain of the moment, stating that even after the doctors confirmed the heartbreaking news, he struggled to accept that his son was gone.
“My last moment with my son was when we were playing in bed around 5 a.m. I fell asleep with Ratu Manueli next to me. But when I woke up, my wife was crying with our son in her hands,” he recalled.
The family transported Ratu Manueli’s body to the mortuary in Navua, but due to a power outage at the local facility, they were redirected to the mortuary in Suva.
“As his father, I told myself he was alive. Even when the doctors told me he had passed, I didn’t believe it,” Mr. Delai shared. “On our way back home, I held back my pain as a father. I was particularly close to him. The following morning, we all woke up crying.”
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday, and the family is urging other parents to remain vigilant about their children’s safety.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, according to police spokesman Wame Bautolu.