Scrap metal claims first victim
The spike in the scrap metal trade, illegal and legal has led to many problems of thefts and trespassing recently.
Yesterday it claimed its first life when a 28-year-old man from Tamavua-I-Wai drowned while trying to collect scrap metal from the wreck of old capsized fishing vessels outside Mosquito Island in Lami Bay.
The area with depths between 6-10 metres at high tide has been a resting place for old fishing vessels no longer in use but has been slowly taken apart by scrap metal dealers.
The deceased’s brother dived and found him stuck under water; he pulled him out and tried to apply mouth to mouth resuscitation but was unsuccessful.
Police would like to warn those diving for scrap metal in the Lami area to refrain from such activities because it is a danger zone.
Joy swim ends in death
A 16-year-old student of TPAF, Nadi drowned while accompanying his young friends for a swim in the Nadi River.
He was accompanied by two young girls 14 and 15 yrs and a young boy of seven years (all related from Nakavu Village) at around 11.30am yesterday, Monday March 28.
The deceased experienced difficulty as they tried to cross the Nadi River and was calling for help as he disappeared under the water.
His body was recovered later by Police 50 meters from where they were swimming.
Policemen at the scene said currents were still quite strong and the river was flooded due to heavy rains experienced the day before.
There is also the concern the children should have been in school at this hour instead of being at the river.
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