The tragic death of 39-year-old Sikeli Nawaqa in Perth, Australia this past Sunday has plunged his wife and four children in Fiji into mourning. Nawaqa was reportedly driving a vehicle that lost control and crashed into a tree, leading to his fatal injuries.
Hailing from Nayawa in Nadroga with family ties to Naceva, Beqa, Nawaqa was traveling with three other Fijian men at the time of the accident. The injured individuals were airlifted to Perth Hospital around 7 PM Sunday.
His devastated wife, Sulueti Naula, 37, expressed her heartbreak, particularly for their four children who are now left without their father. She recounted that a pastor they knew in Perth visited the hospital for updates. After two hours, she received a call from her husband’s employer, immediately sensing the news was grave. Overwhelmed, she sat in her bedroom in tears, recalling their last conversation on Saturday where they discussed plans for their 18-year-old son’s education abroad.
Nawaqa had applied for work overseas through the National Employment Centre two years ago and had been traveling frequently as part of his job. He worked as a supervisor at Agri Fresh Citrus Farm prior to his untimely death. Naula described her husband as a dedicated worker and a devoted family man. His father, Inoke Nawaqa, shared that the family is currently making funeral arrangements.