Cokes Silver Medallist Drowns In Rotuma

Family members of Rotuma High School’s (RHS) first Coca-Cola Games medallist, Daniel Mario Savea, are still in shock after a picnic outing turned tragic on Saturday near Islepi, Juju District, in Rotuma.

It is alleged that Daniel, 15, drowned while trying to save other children from drowning at the pic­nic spot.

He was found dead by Police on Monday.

The teenager had won a silver medal in the junior boys shot put event in August during his second Coca-Cola Games outing at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

He also qualified for the Coke Games in 2020, but the Games was called off because of COVID-19. He was part of the then RHS team that was stranded in Suva during the lockdown.

Father, Joseph Savea, 45, said all hope for their future law enforce­ment officer would not see the light of day.

“Daniel was an introvert who would normally stay home and mind his business. He had all his life planned out,” Savea said emotionally.

“But God has other plans for my boy. Take me instead of my promis­ing boy. It is just too painful to even think about it.”

Reeling in sorrow, Savea said they had just celebrated his medal win two weeks ago on the island.

“On Saturday morning (last week), he gave me his medal and all the money given to him from his Coca-Cola Games trip and he said for me to keep it for a very long time,” he said.

“I did not know what he meant, but I refused to keep it because it was his hard work that earned him all that.”

Recalling those last moments with his son, Savea said Daniel had asked him if he could accompany his fellow youth to the picnic. He agreed to it, adding it was rare for Daniel to go on social events.

“Daniel never goes to youth-or­ganised events. He would normally stay home and be in his own world,” Savea said.

“It came as a shock to me and I thought he was moving out of his comfort zone.”

Last Thursday, Savea opened three Voluntary Accounts for Minor Members with the Fiji National Provident Fund for all his children.

FNPF staff members were on the island as part of the Rights, Em­powerment and Cohesion (REACH) project that missioned there.

“I thought I was going to be depos­iting money for three accounts, but unfortunately it will be only two ac­counts from now. It pains me a lot to think about it and the run around we had to do on that day,” he said.

“Going through this, there’s only one thing I could say and that is to love your children dearly.”

Daniel is survived by his parents and two other siblings.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed a post-mortem examina­tion will be conducted today at the Rotuma sub-divisional Hospital to confirm the cause of death.

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