Wainikiti Kemea, 5, holds the photo of her mum, while grandmother Viame Raluve looks on at their home in Semo Village, Nadroga, on February 23, 2018. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
The family of a drowning victim are still trying to understand why Lice Naiubi had removed her wedding band before going into the river where she allegedly drowned.
Dead is Ms Naiubi, 26 of Bavu Village. She had moved to Semo Village in Nadroga after marriage in 2012.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said: “The victim is believed to have drowned while diving for water mussels in the Tuva River.”
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The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at around 5pm where the Naiubi was diving with other women prior to her dissappearance.
Her younger sister, Joana Kelihama, 18, who was part of the diving party, recalled the last conversation she had with Ms Naiubi.
Ms Kelihama said: “Before she went to the river she removed her wedding ring and gave it to her husband.
“We were in a group of six women when we had collected enough mussels and were returning to the side of the river and when I looked back I did not see her. We dived into the same area and could not find her.
“I then alerted her husband and he dived and managed to find her body on the river bank.”
The victim’s mother-in-law, Viame Raluve, 48, could not hide her emotions. She said: “They had a happy family where they had complete love and affection. I did notice that they would co-operate with each other in all their dealings.
“She now leaves behind my son and her five-year-old daughter.”
Ms Naisoro confirmed a post-mortem will be conducted to find out the cause of death.
Meanwhile, the drowning death toll now stands at five compared to four for the same period last year.
Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar
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