Kaitiro Takaro, the wife of a man who drowned with three of their children in the Labasa River, is still reeling from shock.

Ms Takaro broke her silence for the first time yesterday.

As she mourned the death of husband Mohammed Khaiyum and children, Mohammed Arman, 4, Mohammed Ayan, 7, Ahana, 1, she said: “I wish it was only a bad dream, unfortunately, it’s true.

“I feel a sense of emptiness in my life. Their deaths have broken my heart,” she said.

“My only consolation is my surviving son, 10-year-old Mohammed Azar.”

Azar and his three siblings were taken by their father to the river on Monday.

Mr Khaiyum, a fisherman, had told them they were going on an outing in a boat.

In the river he threw the children overboard and he also jumped into the water.

Azar managed to swim to the boat before he was rescued.

Ms Takaro said Mr Khaiyum’s act might have been motivated by a row between them. She had been assaulted, she said.

“We have had disputes in the past. He would drop us off, me and my children and we would go for a break to Rabi where I am originally from.

“I can’t believe Khaiyum would do such a thing.

“I miss them so much. Now that I’m here, every time I see their clothes I think of them and I start crying.”

She said she was in Nabouwalu at the time of the tragedy. A relative from Suva called and informed and said to get in touch with the Police who were trying to get a hold of her.

“When I called, all the Police told me was that I was to stay within close range of security because if my husband was still alive, they’re afraid of the worst. But his body was later found.”

“The last time I talked to my husband was on Sunday. I asked him if I could speak with our children and he told me ‘This is the last time you will speak to your children’.

“I thought they were just a threat. I did not know what he was planning until the day of the tragedy. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa