Athlete dies in fall from truck

Fagae‘e – A promising young Samoan athlete has died after falling from the back of a truck while on the way home from a fund raising outing for his school’s athletics team.

The Alofi-o- Taoa School from Savai‘i is mourning the death of Fa‘atau‘u Enoka, one of their brightest athletics prospects, according to the Samoa Observer.

According to a fellow student from the school, Enoka fell from the back of a pick-up truck between Letui and Aopo, on the island of Savai’i.

“The truck was going too fast and Fa‘atau‘u was trying to slow it down by tapping on the sides of the truck to tell the driver to slow down,” the student said. “Unfortunately, he fell off the truck.

“He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately he died there.”

The student said Enoka was on his way home after helping the school with a fundraising walkathon.

“It was a fundraising effort by the school to raise money for the athletes to come to Apia for the Champ of Champs,” the student said. “We are devastated, extremely sad.”

Another student wrote on social media: “If tears could build a stairway and memory lane, I’ll walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. That smile of yours will stay in our hearts forever.”

The principal of the school confirmed the death of the young boy from Fagae‘e but declined to comment further.

It was not possible to get a comment from the police, the newspaper reported.