A father of two passed away while attempting to assist a man in salvaging items from his home, which was engulfed in flames in Nadroumai Village, Nadroga, on Monday afternoon.
Mesake Lalai, 47, reportedly collapsed inside the house as he was trying to retrieve belongings from one of the rooms. The residence is owned by the Methodist Church and is occupied by Paula Labalabala, a steward of the church. Labalabala spoke highly of Lalai, stating that his dedication to the church and the community was unparalleled.
“He lost his life in an act of love,” Labalabala said. “He always strived to give his best for the church and would be the first to offer assistance in various church and community projects.”
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro informed that Lalai was transported to Sigatoka Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. “Investigations are ongoing, and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” she added. Naisoro highlighted that there have been numerous fire incidents reported in recent days, urging homeowners to take necessary precautions to identify and eliminate fire hazards.
Lalai is survived by his wife, Unaisi, and their two children. His eldest son, Mitieli Navure, is scheduled to play rugby for the Ratu Kadavulevu School Under 14 team this Saturday at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The funeral is set for next week.