Tarusila Nawaimalua, 30, never thought she would become a widow soon when she farewelled her husband earlier this week.

She had told Police Constable Meli Nawaimalua not to go to a Police training. But Constable Nawaimalua told her the training was important for his career.

He never returned home. He collapsed and died during the training.

The family of Nadala Village, Nadarivatu, Tavua, is still in shock and coming to terms with his death.

Constable Nawaimalua, 31, left home early on Tuesday and headed for Rakiraki, where he collapsed during the regular fitness level (RFL) assessment for officers based in the Rakiraki/Tavua area.

Mrs Nawaimalua, 30, still cannot believe her soul mate is no more after bidding goodbye.

She tearfully recalled the last conversation she had with her husband at about 1am.

“I told him not to go, but he said that he would be back,” Mrs Nawaimalua said.

However, the family was shocked when officers turned up to their village home at 12.30pm on Tuesday to relay the sad news of Constable Nawaimalua’s death.

Mrs Nawaimalua recalled their joyous moments as a couple.

“He always inspired me to become a better person,” she said in tears, while speaking of their plans.

“We were planning to build a house for the entire family for which we had started saving money,” she added.

Constable Nawaimalua was supposed to pick up a cupboard from Courts on Tuesday after returning from the training, but instead the family received the news of his untimely death.

The entire village is in mourning after the news of Constable Nawaimalua’s death, an active and lively person who could put a smile on anyone’s face.

“Something is missing now,” said his aunt Suleti Bebe, 33, who was shocked by the untimely news.

Constable Nawaimalua was the eldest of four children, with two brothers and a sister.

His younger brother Sigatabu Bari, 20, described Constable Nawaimalua as an inspirational young man who always wanted to see his siblings grow and never shirked his duty to look after the wellbeing of everyone in the family.

“He taught me how to drive,” he added.

Mr Bari said Constable Nawaimalua was the sole breadwinner of the family and always encouraged his younger siblings to study hard to attain success.

“He always motivated me to study hard,” he added.

Mr Bari recalled his last moments with his brother on Monday evening when the two were watching movies together.

“He came and we had dinner. I said goodbye before he slept,” he added.

Little did he know that it would be the last time they saw each other alive.

Constable Nawaimalua’s father, Timoci Bebe, 55, recalled the last conversation he had with his son on Monday night when he was invited to have dinner with him.

He said his son was an avid farmer and loved his plantation and was looking forward to harvesting his crops.

“He had planted eggplants, sweetcorn, cabbage and long bean, however, he was not able to harvest any,” Mr Bebe said.

Doctors are yet to confirm the cause of death, but Police confirmed he collapsed on the roadside near Ra Special School. He was pronounced dead at the Rakiraki Hospital on Tuesday.

The late Constable Nawaimalua was based at the Nadarivatu Police Post.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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