An organised family picnic at Nasilai Beach, Kiuva, Tailevu, turned tragic when Vunimono High School Year 10 student Rayshal Roy, 15, drowned.
His father, Atish Chand, said they had been planning for this picnic for quite some time and agreed to have their picnic at Nasilai Beach on Sunday.
Mr Chand said the family arrived at the beach around midday and the incident happened around 2.15pm when Rayshal was swept away by big waves.
He said he had been taking pictures of family members swimming when the incident happened.
Mr Chand said he tried to save his son, but it was too late because he was carried away by the waves.
“I only saw him twice and that was the last time I saw him,” he said.
He said Roy knew how to swim and they used to go for family picnics at Colo-i-Suva.
Rayshal was found dead yesterday by 18-year-old Tomasi Naborisi from Vadrai Village in Nakelo, Tailevu.
He said they searched Nasilai Beach on Sunday when the Police alerted them of the missing boy believed to have drowned.
Tomasi said they did not see anyone because it was getting dark so they returned to their village.
Yesterday, he said, as soon as he woke up he went again to search for the missing boy.
“I went down the beach from my village and as I neared the place where they were swimming, I found a body washed ashore,” he said.
He said he called the Police in Nausori and went back to the village to relay the news and got some others to carry the dead boy to the road.”
Tomasi Naborisi 18 shows where he found the body of 15 year-old Rayshal Roy at Naselai Beach in Tailevu on April 22, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar.
Tomasi said they were at the roadside with the body when the Police arrived and took Rayshal to Wainibokasi Hospital.
Rayshal’s elder brother is in Year 13 at Vunimono High School and younger brother in Year 3 at Vunimono Primary School.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the discovery and renewed a warning for members of the public to adhere to safety advisories in light of heavy rain and flooding experienced in parts of the country.
Parents and guardians have also been urged to ensure that children do not play near or in flooded drains, creeks and rivers.
Edited by Epineri Vula
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