Pastor drowns while trying to save firewood

National

A pastor drowned while trying to save his bundle of firewood in the Busu River in Lae last Saturday.
Ps Efty Asak Tamai, of the Lutheran Renewal Church at As Mambu along Back Road, was overpowered by the fast-flowing river while trying to save his firewood.
Relative and Burum-Kuat’s Primary School head teacher Fleks Borish said Tamai went with his son to the other side of river in search of firewood.
He said Tamai, in his mid-30s and from Zevivang village in Burum-Kuat, Finschhafen, drowned when following his son on an inflated tube with his firewood.
“He lost his balance. The firewood bundle and tube went separate ways while he was dragged down by the current and hit his head on a stone underneath,” Borish said.
He said Tamai was washed down the river and was found lying unconscious at Yarus Block, Busu Compound.
“He was taken to Angau Memorial General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.”
“We are shocked by his death. I am cautioning people living along Busu River to be cautions when trying to cross it,” Borish said.
The river recently washed away 23 homes of the Yarus people living at the Busu Compound and left hundreds homeless.