The tragic passing of 39-year-old Fijian Sikeli Nawaqa in Perth, Australia, has left his family in Fiji heartbroken. Nawaqa’s death, which gained attention in Australian media, occurred when the vehicle he was driving swerved off the road and collided with a tree.
Originally from Nayawa in Nadroga, Nawaqa had maternal ties to Naceva, Beqa. At the time of the accident, he was with three other Fijian men who suffered injuries and were subsequently airlifted to Perth Hospital around 7 PM on Sunday.
His devastated wife, Sulueti Naula, 37, expressed her anguish upon receiving the news, focusing on the challenge of raising their four children alone. She recalled that a pastor they stayed with in Perth visited the hospital for updates that morning. After a couple of hours, she received a call from her husband’s employer, which she instinctively knew related to her husband. Overwhelmed, she was unable to answer the phone and could only cry in her bedroom.
Just a day earlier, the couple had discussed plans for their 18-year-old son to study abroad. Nawaqa had been actively seeking job opportunities overseas through the National Employment Centre under the Ministry of Employment for the past two years, successfully balancing work in and out of Fiji. He was employed as a supervisor at Agri Fresh Citrus Farm.
Naula characterized her husband as dedicated and devoted to his family. His father, Inoke Nawaqa, stated that the family is currently making funeral arrangements.