NEWS

Rewa Bridge Jumper: ‘I Regret It, Will Not Do It Again’

Bus driver Ronald Prasad of Vusuya, Nausori, regrets the decision of jumping into the river. According to him, financial and personal stress influenced his decision.
17 May 2020 12:16
Rewa Bridge Jumper: ‘I Regret It, Will Not Do It Again’
Rewa Bridge.

A 30-year-old Nausori bus driver who jumped into the Rewa River yesterday says he will not do it again.

Bus driver Ronald Prasad of Vusuya, Nausori, regrets the decision of jumping into the river. According to him, financial and personal stress influenced his decision.

“I regret attempting to take my life. I did not realise the impact of my actions on my wife and a three-month-old baby,” he said.

His wife, Ashnita Pillay, 18, was in tears after being informed of the incident.

“I was told by the passengers that he parked the bus and jumped,” she said.

Mr Prasad, who drives for Island Buses Limited, was saved from drowning by two of his passengers after he parked the bus he was driving on the Rewa Bridge, got off the bus and jumped into waters below.

At that point in time, there were five passengers on the bus. The incident happened around 9am yesterday.

Commuters and passing traffic were taken by surprise by the jumper, as the bus screeched to a stop on the busy bridge, two passengers in the bus then jumped after him and dragged him safely to shore.

Mr Prasad said the failure to build his own home was among the worries he faced.

He was admitted to hospital after the incident.

Company director Vijendra Kewal said they were yet to talk to the driver and find out what had happened.

Mr Kewal said Mr Prasad seemed all right when he reported for work in the morning.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said they would need to talk to Mr Prasad and refer him to the St Giles Hospital for a psychiatric assessment. No charges have been laid yet.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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