A dead branch kill man and die on the spot in West Kwaio

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) in Auki, Malaita province have attended to a report of a dead branch that fell off a tree and killed an adult male person in West Kwaio, Malaita Province on 23 September 2021.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province, Chief Superintendent Stanley Riolo says, “Police received a report of a death incident which occurred at Gwaunafou tribal land in the West Kwaio region.”

Chief Superintendent Riolo says, “Police received information that there was a group of people who were going on a land survey at Gwaunafou tribal land boundary to identify a plot of land that was given to one of their female clans. However, upon their return, it was raining so they decided to take shelter under a big tree.”

Mr Riolo says, “While they were still hiding, a dead branch broke at the top of the tree and fell straight on them. The others managed to escape from the branch but it was unlucky for the deceased that the broken branch landed on his head and he died on the spot.”

PPC Riolo says, “When police arrived at the location at about 4pm to examine the scene, the Gwaunafou landowners were already there with the body of the deceased.”

“My condolences to the family members of the deceased and relatives for your great loss. We share our prayers with you during this time of sadness,” says PPC Riolo.