Firefighter Collapses, Dies During Required Fitness Level Training

Abele Matai, a firefighter at the National Fire Authority in Labasa, died on Friday after he collapsed during the Required Fitness Level training.

His wife, Setaita Qiolevu Matai, said she had gone to drop their four-year-old son, Isoa Matai, at the fire station early that morning when she was told that her husband was at the emergency room at the Labasa Hospital.

“When we got there, the medical team was still trying to resuscitate my husband,” Ms Matai said.

“I was just praying for a miracle that my husband will be all right.

“He was not sick, if he was, I wouldn’t have allowed him to go for training.

“My son saw his father lying on the operating table and could not stop crying, at four years old he understood that his father was no more.

“Our family is still trying to come to terms with the sudden news of my husband’s passing and it is very hard to accept it.”

Abele Matai (standing left) with members of the National Fire Authority rescue team of Labasa.

Divisional Police Commander Northern (DPC) Senior Superintendent of Police Eparama Waqa confirmed that they were carrying out their investigations and awaiting the results of the post-mortem examination.

The youngest of three siblings, Mr Matai of Nakama, Wailevu, Macuata, was survived by his wife and only son.

Edited by Epineri Vula.

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