HILARY HOSIA
Three breadfruits. These were the last gifts Mark Antakbon provided his family before his untimely death Monday morning from what health officials say was an electrocution accident at Batkan.
His wife Jumita witnessed Mark’s final moments: from where she was standing inside her house, Jumita saw Mark making his way down from the breadfruit tree right outside their home in Batkan. Then a sound of struggle followed, she said. And when she looked up, Mark was on his back in the branches and smoke appeared from his body. Seconds later, Mark fell onto a branch before falling eight feet to the ground and landing on his head.
A power line runs through the breadfruit tree next to Antakabon’s residence. The metal pole he was using to knock breadfruits loose high up in the tree apparently touched the power line while he was holding it, causing his electrocution.
“He was breathing when he was taken away to the hospital,” Jumita said. He was pronounced “dead on arrival” moments later.Antakbon is survived by Jumita, son Yoshi and daughters Tyla and Maila, who is the eldest at six.Coastal Protection Services Director Riem Simon spoke highly of Antakbon, saying he was an essential member of his seawall building crew.
Simon said Antakbon’s passing gave him more motivation to fight for insurance for his crew.
“Boys like Mark are the real front line fighters of climate change,” Simon said. “These boys literally break their backs for the country and therefore should be compensated accordingly.”
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