Teen ‘Crushed’ To Death
Mum mourns her 19-year-old son who lost his life after a crane allegedly hit the scaffold he was on, resulting in him falling. The scaffold then fell on top of him
Monday 02 November 2020 | 09:53
Nanise Mawamawa, mother of the late Maritino Tikoisavusavu, holds up a photo of her son.
A family is grieving after losing one of its own, who died from injuries allegedly sustained from an accident while working at a hardware yard in Narere.
Nineteen-year-old Maritino Tikoisavusavu lost his life on Saturday after it was alleged that scaffold crashed down on him.
Mr Tikoisavusavu was a labourer with Triteck Welding Works, a company which was on a subcontract at the yard.
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Police say he was rushed to the Bhanabhai Health Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mr Tikoisavusavu’s mother Nanise Mawamawa, said she last spoke with her son last Friday afternoon as he was assuring her not to worry about their plans of getting a residential lease which they were working on together.
“When my husband and I separated, Maritino was unable to enjoy his life as a teenager because he took it upon himself without hesitation, the role and to be the sole provider of the family,” Ms Mawamawa, said.
“I will miss him very much because he died a teenager while taking up the responsibility of a father.
“In 2017, he decided to drop out from
Technical College as he wanted to help financially with the family.
“I work as a security guard and with the pandemic it has been quite tough financially and Maritino did not hesitate to step in to assist with bills, food and other family expenses.”
The late former Tilak High School student hailed from Nalele, Cikobia with maternal links to Silavalevu, Nadroga.
Ms Mawamawa, said her son was a humble, kind and selfless young boy.
“He was a very hardworking boy and prioritised his family,” she said.
“He helped around the house from maintenance work, electric, cooking, and even farming to support his family.”
Director of Triteck Welding Works, Manoj Kumar sympathised with Mr Tikoisavusavu’s family and is taking the full responsibility for the accident.
“Maritino has been with the company for three months and I have lost one of my best workers who was hardworking and kind,” he said.
“According to my foreman, the unexpected accident happened at around 8:20am on Saturday,
“Maritino was wearing all the safety harness when he climbed onto the scaffold.
“The crane driver must have not seen him on it when the crane hit the side of the scaffold. Maritino tried to avoid the hit but his safety harness was still hooked to the scaffold.
“As a result, the scaffold hit him, he fell and the scaffold came on top of him,” Mr Kumar said.
“We have been in contact with his mother and as a company, it is our responsibility to help the family in any way we can.”
The funeral will be this Saturday at his family home in Saru, Lautoka.
Police investigations continue and a post mortem will be done this week.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
