The tragic death of 39-year-old Sikeli Nawaqa in Perth, Australia, has sent shockwaves through his family in Fiji, leaving his wife and four children in deep mourning. Nawaqa was reported to have been driving a vehicle that went off the road and crashed into a tree, leading to his untimely death.
Originally from Nayawa in Nadroga, with maternal ties to Naceva in Beqa, Nawaqa was traveling with three fellow Fijian men, all of whom were injured and subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Perth.
His devastated wife, Sulueti Naula, 37, shared her immediate thoughts upon receiving the news, focusing on the challenge of caring for their children alone. She recounted how a pastor they lived with in Perth visited the hospital for updates. After a couple of hours, Naula received a phone call from her husband’s employer. Recognizing the significance of the call, she felt overwhelmed and unable to answer, instead finding herself in tears in her bedroom.
Just the day before, the couple had been discussing plans for their 18-year-old son to study abroad. Nawaqa had been working overseas since applying for positions through the National Employment Centre under the Ministry of Employment two years ago, and he held a supervisory role at the Agri Fresh Citrus Farm at the time of his death.
Naula described her husband as a dedicated and hardworking family man. Nawaqa’s father, Inoke Nawaqa, confirmed that the family is currently making arrangements for his funeral.