Residents Uncover Dead Body from River, Police Investigate

Small business owner Leba Ravu was startled by a man calling for help outside her compound in Naiyala Sub-division outside Nausori yesterday morning.

“The man wanted to use my phone to call the Police because he suspected a body was floating in the Rewa River,” Ms Ravu recounted.

Ms Ravu, a tailor by profession, has been living in the area for three years.

“It was around 8.30am, and the man was hysterical, so we all went down to the river to see for ourselves,” she explained.

The commotion attracted the entire neighbourhood to the scene, according to Ms Ravu.

Her neighbour, Nacani Nabaro, along with three other men from the area, attempted to retrieve the body of a man floating in the Rewa River.

“With the current, the men had no choice but to join hands to bring the body to shore,” she described.

“My husband also assisted. I tried calling the Police three times, but there was no response.

“Fortunately, there was a bamboo raft which the men used to assist them bring the body to shore while trying to contact the Police.

“The dead man had bruises on his face and an open cut on his mouth,” she described.

He appeared to be in his mid-30s.

Ms Ravu stated that the Police arrived about 45 minutes after the men had retrieved the body from the river.

“It was a traumatic experience, especially given the recent increase in missing persons and suspicious deaths,” she added.

Another resident, Kelera Nabaro, livestreamed the incident on Facebook but later deleted the video following a directive from the Police.

“My intention was simply to seek help if anyone recognised the man,” Ms Nabaro clarified.

Police have confirmed that a deceased man was found on the Rewa River yesterday morning.

Further details will be disclosed by the Police after the Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) complete their initial investigations.

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