The Delai family is grieving the loss of their 18-month-old son, Ratu Manueli Ligari Delai, who died in an alleged accident outside their home in Naitonitoni, Navua, five days ago. On Sunday last week, the toddler was reportedly struck by a vehicle in the family’s driveway.
His mother, Serai Tinai, 34, shared that she was cooking around 9 am when she heard a loud noise outside. She stated that the vehicle did not stop after the incident. Along with her husband, Apimeleki Delai, 47, they quickly took their son to Navua Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mr. Delai expressed the heart-wrenching pain of the moment, saying it was hard to accept his son’s death even when the doctors confirmed the tragic news. “My last moment with my son was when we were playing in bed around 5 am,” he recalled. “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 explained that they had to transport their son’s body to the local mortuary in Navua, only to be redirected to the Suva mortuary due to a power outage. “As his father, I told myself he was alive. Even when the doctors told me he had passed, I didn’t believe it,” he said, adding that he tried to remain strong during the journey home, feeling particularly close to his son. The next morning, the family woke up in tears.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on Wednesday. The family is urging other parents to be vigilant and attentive to their children’s whereabouts and safety, as the incident has left them devastated. Police spokesman Wame Bautolu confirmed that investigations are ongoing.