ILISAPECI Naitini is heartbroken as she reflects on the missed opportunity to answer her husband, Epineri Naitini’s phone calls in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mr. Naitini attempted to reach out around 1:30 AM, but his wife was offline and unaware of his desperate calls. This tragic incident took a turn just hours before Mrs. Naitini received the devastating news of her husband’s death, which occurred in Sydney, Australia.
Mrs. Naitini, who juggles the responsibilities of raising their two young daughters, Lavenia Kaloubula Naitini, 6, and Karalaini Tabua Volaunitoga Naitini, 2, learned of her husband’s demise through a call from her sister-in-law later that evening. “I was told that he had been stabbed. I was shocked,” she recounted, emphasizing the deep anguish her family is enduring. The news has left their eldest daughter in tears, feeling the weight of such unimaginable loss.
The couple last communicated on Christmas Day when Mr. Naitini was spending time with friends, including Anaseini Waqavuki, who has been unfoundedly implicated in media reports suggesting a love triangle. Mrs. Naitini firmly refuted these claims, asserting that they do not reflect the loving man she knew. “Epi was a devoted husband and father; he never missed a day to call us or a week to send us money,” she said, recalling her husband’s unwavering dedication to their family.
Epineri Naitini, 30, moved to Australia on a student visa shortly after their marriage in December 2022 and had intentions of returning to Fiji in 2026 to visit relatives. Originally from Nabudrau, Noco, Rewa, preparations are being made to repatriate his body to Fiji for burial, allowing his family to honor him in his homeland.
This tragic situation serves as a somber reminder of life’s fragility and the critical nature of communication, as Mrs. Naitini and her family navigate the heart-wrenching reality of their loss. In the wake of this tragedy, there is hope for healing as family and friends come together to support one another during this incredibly difficult time.