This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
On July 26, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in Arizona, claiming the life of 35-year-old Chris Atema, the firstborn son of Ikolomani Member of Parliament Benard Shinali.
Atema, a United States Marine Corps member, lost his life while attempting to rescue a teenage girl of Canadian descent who was struggling to stay afloat in a swimming pool.
The family has not yet confirmed the exact circumstances surrounding Atema's death but has stated that they are making travel arrangements to the U.S. to investigate the cause of death with the assistance of investigators.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, Robert Avisi, the MP's elder brother, urged the public to respect the family's privacy during this difficult time.
"The public will be briefed once the family is sure of what happened," Avisi said.
Atema leaves behind an expectant wife and two children.
