Neori Vuidreketi Makoto has a single wish: for his younger brother, Semi Lete Makoto, to return home to his family.
Semi Makoto, 24, passed away in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Aspen Hospital in Lautoka following an accident last week. Semi was an employee at Burger King in Martintar, Nadi. He was involved in an accident while riding his bike from his home in Malolo, Nadi, to work when he was hit by a bus near his workplace.
Police spokesperson Wame Bautolu stated that the police are investigating the case.
A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, alleged that the bus was traveling at high speed when it struck the victim. “The man was not wearing a helmet. He must have had a serious head injury just by the distance between where he was hit and where he landed,” the witness said.
Upon receiving news of his brother being rushed to the hospital, Mr. Makoto initially thought it was just a minor injury. “But when I came to the hospital, I was shocked to see the condition he was in. He was in a coma. The whole of last week I kept on going to the ICU and hoping that he would open his eyes and we could speak to each other again,” he said.
“The doctors kept updating us about his condition until they declared that he was brain dead. Last week, we were told to come and say our last goodbye to him. All I wish for was if he can recover again and take care of his small family. He has one child who is a year old.”
Mr. Makoto shared that his brother was saving money with dreams of buying land to farm. The victim was the youngest of three siblings. Describing his brother as a hardworking person, Mr. Makoto said, “He is a very quiet person. He doesn’t speak much, but the work that he does speaks a lot about him. He is a hardworking person. We are very close to each other. I miss my brother.”