"Only bones and a skull”: Eyewitness describes body found in Vatuwaqa mangroves

An eyewitness at the scene where a body was found in the mangroves of Vatuwaqa in Suva this morning said it was in an advanced stage of decomposition.

Mesake Saqanivalu, 25, of Malabe, Wainibuka in Tailevu, was among the first group of people to reach the area where the body was located.

“When we arrived, the body was already hanging from a mangrove tree,” Mr Saqanivalu said.

He said the body was severely decomposed, with only bones and the skull visible.

“It looked like it had been there since Christmas week,” he said.

Mr Saqanivalu said the body appeared to be that of a young man, believed to be in his early 20s and possibly from the Vatuwaqa area.

“The only identifiable item was a silver chain still around his neck,” he said.

Mr Saqanivalu assisted Police officers and forensic personnel during the recovery of the body.

The body was first discovered by a woman and her daughter.

The identity of the male victim is yet to be confirmed.

Police are treating the case as an alleged suicide, and investigations are continuing.

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