“I have not lost hope and my son will return home.”
65-year-old, Subra Mani of Volivoli, Rakiraki made these comments as he waits in anticipation to hear on the whereabouts of his son, Nigel Nischal Mani who is one of the fishermen missing at sea from last Thursday.
Mani says he has a feeling that his son is alive and is sheltering somewhere.
He says there were five life jackets and two people on the boat.
Mani who is also a fisherman says only one life jacket has been found in the boat and this means that his son and Rajneel Rajnesh Reddy would have been wearing two life jackets each.
Mani adds they have been going out to sea to search for the two missing people but are requesting for more help.
Five fishermen remain missing at sea after leaving for separate fishing trips on New Year’s Eve.
Police have found a red wooden cabin boat near Vatulele village in Koro and have verified that it belonged to the two fishermen of Volivoli, Rakiraki who were reported missing last Thursday.
A number of items were recovered by Police but 34‑year‑old Nigel Nischal Mani and 34‑year‑old Rajneel Rajnesh Reddy were nowhere to be found.
They had left for a fishing trip to the Vatu‑i‑Ra passage last Thursday.
Also missing at sea is Nakasi resident, Yakub Khan also known as Sonny.
50‑year‑old Khan was on a fishing trip with two others last Friday when their boat capsized.
Two of the men managed to save their lives by swimming ashore while Khan is yet to be found.
Police have also confirmed that 49‑year‑old Rajeshwar Naidu and 45‑year‑old Edward Lavish from Karavi, Ba are still missing at sea.
The two were on board a red 27 feet half cabin boat named JADE and were fishing off Yadua Island.
People living in the nearby areas are advised to keep a lookout and report any sightings to the Police Search and Rescue Center on 3318529.
Meanwhile, the occupants of a boat that was also reported missing at the Ba police station have now made it safely to shore and are being interviewed by Police.
Police say one of the occupants who arrived safely is the brother of one of the fishermen from Volivoli, Rakiraki who remains missing at sea.
