Quick action by a Lautoka man saved the life of his neighbour, who was alleged to have been found lying unconscious inside her Viseisei home in Vuda on Tuesday.

Pritesh Singh has been acknowledged for his timely efforts by Police Commissioner, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, after immediately alerting Police about his neighbour, Lachmi.

The 74-year-old woman lived alone in her two-bedroom home and was dependent on Mr Singh and his wife, Miliana Lutudra, for doing physical work around her home as she was sickly.

They had known each for about nine years now.

On Tuesday at midday while going out to clear and collect cassava from her plantation, Mr Singh called out to her, but received no response.

He said he went again at around 5.45pm to alert her about the cassava he had just pulled out and again he didn’t receive a response.

“Her door was locked and I was worried because curfew was at 6pm and she wasn’t at home,” he said.

“I called her and her phone was ringing from inside the house, immediately I took a drum, stood outside her window and saw her lying on the bed with a blanket.

“I said ‘Lachmi aunty wake up’ and she didn’t say anything; I thought she was dead.”

He said a phone call was then made to Police to alert them about the situation.

“The Police arrived, they broke the door, went inside and saw that she was still breathing, but wasn’t saying a word,” said Mr Singh.

“We all shouted ‘she’s alive’ and I helped them carry her into the vehicle for her to be taken to the Lautoka Hospital.”

Mr Singh said he admired the great efforts by Police, ensuring that Lachmi was kept warm while on her way to the hospital.

She is recovering well.

Brigadier-General Qiliho said the thoughtfulness by Mr Singh was a good example of the ‘know-your-neighbour’ concept promoted by the community policing team.

“The Fiji Police Force wishes to thank Mr Pritesh for being caring and thoughtful,” he said.

“By working together and looking out for one another, you’re helping to build stronger and resilient communities where support can always be counted on in times of need.”

He encourages all Fijians to continue to look after and support each other.

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