Family mourns after fishing trip turns fatal

A grieving sister is calling for rescue boats and lifesaving training in Fiji's coastal communities after her brother allegedly drowned when his fishing boat capsized off Yadua, Nadroga, on Saturday.

William Bennion, 68, a farmer from Delaitoga Village in Naitasiri with maternal links to Cuvu Village in Nadroga, was recovered from the water on Saturday afternoon by a joint search team comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF) divers and members of the Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji resort's hydro sports team.

Still coming to terms with her loss, his sister Emmaline Bennion, 64, said she hoped no other family would have to endure the same tragedy.

She said her brother, a father of five, had dedicated his retirement to farming and fishing and had recently begun harvesting the first vanilla crop he had spent years cultivating.

“He had recently begun harvesting his first vanilla crop after years of work,” Ms Bennion said.

“He always told me that one day he would make a lot of money from this vanilla. Now he is gone and will never see the rewards of his hard work.”

Ms Bennion said she had pleaded with her brother not to go out to sea because of the rough conditions.

“Before my brother left, he came to get his bait. I told him not to go because the sea was very rough,” she said.

“But he kept saying, ‘No, I’ll just go and finish this bait. I won’t go too far. I’ll be back.’ That was the last time I saw him.”

She said the tragedy had reinforced the need for better emergency response capabilities in coastal villages, particularly in areas where boating accidents had occurred before.

“That is why I hope the turaga ni koro of the village by the sea can have something in place. If they could receive training as lifeguards or have a rescue boat available, it could help save lives if something like this happens again in the future.”

Police said Mr Bennion allegedly drowned after the boat he was travelling in capsized.

Investigations are continuing.