POLICE are investigating the death of a 32-year-old Ra woman who was found lying in a river on Tuesday morning.
According to a Raviravi villager, the woman, who was from Navuniyamunu Village in the Tokaimalo District, was discovered by a youth who went to the river that morning.
"She was still alive when she was found. Her upper body was on land but her lower limbs were in the water. The alarm was raised and efforts were made to get her to the hospital," he said.
The difficulties in getting transportation prevented the woman's immediate transfer to the hospital. Hours after transport was finally secured, the single mother of three was taken to the hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
The villager said they suspected she had drunk herbal medicine which caused her to feel intense heat and made her go in search of a place to cool down.
Police west spokesman Wame Bautolu said no evidence of violence was found on the woman's body.
He said blood samples from the deceased had been taken and sent for analysis.
"We cannot confirm yet if she died as a result of the herbal medicine which relatives say she consumed. But we are investigating those claims and trying to identify the source of the herbal medicine," he said.
