Lindfield woodchipper death: Samuela Cirivakayawa’s ex-wife suggests suicide

EXCLUSIVE: ‘How could he have fallen in?’ Ex-wife of gardener killed when he was sucked into a WOODCHIPPER fears he took his own life because ‘he was secretly heartbroken’

  • Samuela Cirivakayawa, 40, died in horrendous woodchipper incident
  • Colleagues had gone to move a car in Sydney’s north when occurred
  • Returned to find Mr Cirivakayawa missing – and blood on the machine 
  • Police and Safe Work authorities are looking into whether it was an accident 
  • His ex-wife suggested Venaisi Nadore said the incident seemed ‘suspicious’
  • Suggested he may have taken his own life in grisly fashion 

How did he die? Police and Safe Work NSW are investigating how gardener Samuela Cirivakaywawa, 40, died. Above, he is seen with ex-wife Venaisi Nadore, who fears he may have died by suicide as she waits for answers

The ex-wife of a man who died in a horrendous woodchipper incident fears he may have taken his own life because of ‘heartbreak’ or ‘things not going right’.

Sydney arborist and Fijian migrant Samuela Cirivakayawa, 40, died while working as a treelopper in the city’s north one Saturday morning last month.

He was feeding branches into the machine in Lindfield when he was apparently ‘dragged’ in, with police sources saying it appeared to have been a tragic accident.  

Mr Cirivakayawa’s devastated former spouse of nine years, Venaisi Nadore, told Daily Mail Australia she ‘couldn’t believe it’ when a friend texted her the devastating news.

Ms Nadore said she believed his death was ‘suspicious’ and was baffled by the idea he could have fallen into the machine. 

‘Looking at the machine … how could his body go inside?’ she said. ‘Did he want the machine to suck his hand (in) or what?’  

She believed he may have taken his own life: ‘He must have been heartbroken and he felt he can’t share it’. 

Samuela Cirivakayawa died after allegedly falling into this woodchipper (above) in Lindfield, on Sydney's north shore, on the morning of Saturday, September 9

Samuela Cirivakayawa died after allegedly falling into this woodchipper (above) in Lindfield, on Sydney’s north shore, on the morning of Saturday, September 9

A woodchipper similar to the kind which claimed Mr Cirivakayawa's life last month is pictured above (stock image)

A woodchipper similar to the kind which claimed Mr Cirivakayawa’s life last month is pictured above (stock image) 

The matter remains under investigation by both NSW Police and Safe Work NSW. 

A police spokeswoman declined to comment on the ex-wife’s theory. Police are preparing a brief for the state Coroner.  

Ms Nadore said her former husband’s body was yet to be returned to the Fiji and that family members had been squabbling over it. 

She said Mr Cirivakayawa had broke off his relationship with her after having an affair with a woman who had been living in Fiji. 

He then migrated to Australia where he was working as a tree-lopper for about six months prior to his death. His foster parents died recently, she siad. 

‘He came to Australia to bury his dad, and later found a job – as the salary of teaching jobs in Fiji is quite low,’ teaching colleague Saula Watson Buro said last month.  

The 40-year-old (above) was working as a teacher in Fiji. He had recently moved to Australia to start a new life and was working as a tree lopper

The 40-year-old (above) was working as a teacher in Fiji. He had recently moved to Australia to start a new life and was working as a tree lopper 

Police at the scene of the horrific incident near Cromehurst School in Lindfield last month

Police at the scene of the horrific incident near Cromehurst School in Lindfield last month

The day of the tragedy, September 9, two colleagues working with Mr Cirivakayawa him had reportedly walked away from the scene to move a car.  

They returned to find Samuela missing – and, in a disturbing discovery, found blood on the machine.   

A SafeWork NSW spokeswoman said the agency’s investigation is ongoing. 

It’s understood authorities have two years after an incident to make enforcement decisions. 

A young Mr Cirivakayawa (front row) at teaching college with friends, including Saula Watson Buro (back row, left)

A young Mr Cirivakayawa (front row) at teaching college with friends, including Saula Watson Buro (back row, left) 

For Ms Nadore, the heartbreak continues. ‘I felt so heartbroken because I was married for him for nine years,’ she said. 

‘Nine years, you know that person really in and out. 

‘For him leaving me is really painful, but I wouldn’t think of him in a bad way.’ 

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