‘I Will Miss My Only Brother’
“I will miss him because I don’t have any other sibling, he was the only one I could ask for any little thing and he would always turn to me when he faced marital problems.”
Wednesday 10 August 2022 | 12:23
Ropate Ralogilala holds up a picture of his late brother Rupeni Talakuli at Waiyavi, Lautoka on August 8, 2022. Photo: Salote Qalubau
Ropate Ralogilala, 40, is still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of his elder brother, Rupeni Talakuli, who passed away on Monday following the alleged extent of injuries he sustained on August 4 in Nadi.
The late Rupeni Talakuli, 47, was operating a crane in an industrial area in Waimalika, Nadi last week when an object allegedly fell on his head, injuring him severely.
Mr Ralogilala and Mr Talakuli resided in Lautoka. On the day of the alleged incident, Mr Ralogilala received a call from On Call Cranes Fiji Limited that his brother had got injured at work.
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“I rushed to Nadi Hospital but when we went to check him, he was taken to Lautoka in an ambulance,” Mr Ralogilala said.
“We saw the extent of his injury was really serious. One side of his head was hit by the object,” he said.
“The doctors told me he had serious injuries and he would not live long.”
“(On Monday) when I was getting ready for work the doctors called me to go see him as there was no change in his condition from the weekend and the only thing keeping him alive were the machines.
“I stepped out for a while but by the time I came back, the doctors said he passed away, they tried to do CPR but it didn’t work.”
He said his brother separated from his wife, did not have any children and resided alone at a house in Kashmir, Lautoka, provided by the company he worked for.
He said Mr Talakuli always maintained a cheerful personality.
“Whenever I wanted anything, I would call him and if he wanted anything he would call me, my children would go to clean his compound, wash his clothes and just when we were getting closer, his life was taken away,” he said.
“I will miss him because I don’t have any other sibling, he was the only one I could ask for any little thing and he would always turn to me when he faced marital problems.”
He confirmed his brother would be laid to rest at Nawaqavesi, Nokonoko, Ra this Saturday. On Call Cranes Fiji Limited director Rahmat Ali said Mr Talakuli was a loyal employee who worked at the company for four years.
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