Tributes flow for Boral truck driver Kalati Rex Toleafoa after he suffered a heart attack at Parramatta

A devastated wife who was on a video call to her husband as he suffered a fatal heart attack in Parramatta’s CBD has remembered the ‘special’ man she instantly fell in love with.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

less than 2 min read

October 15, 2021 - 11:18AM

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Seu Kalati Toleafoa did not know it at the time she was talking to her husband, on a video call on Tuesday, but it would be the last time she would hear his voice.

Kalati Rex Toleafoa was at the traffic lights under the rail bridge at Church St and Argyle St, Parramatta, about 9.45am when he suffered a heart attack, with chaos unfolding as witnesses rushed to his aid after he crashed into traffic lights and was slumped over the wheel.

The phone was placed on a seat and Mrs Toleafoa, who met her husband at a freight company in Melbourne before marrying him in 2013, could not see him and was confused as her 43-year-old went into cardiac arrest.

He was rushed to Westmead Hospital but was pronounced dead about 10.30am.

Kalati Rex Toleafoa with his mother Talai, whom has outlived him.

Boral concrete truck driver Kalati Rex Toleafoa and his wife Seu, who said her husband loved to sing and dance.

Mrs Toleafoa said her husband was in and out of hospitals because of his sleep apnoea but that failed to subside the shock that rocked the Mt Pritchard family when he died.

“I just didn’t think it was going to happen this time but we knew he had a heart condition,’’ Mrs Toleafoa said.

He leaves behind two daughters Silia, 16 and Tausala, 10, and son Aaron, 9.

“They’re very devastated, they’re so shattered’’ Mrs Toleafoa said.

“He’s everything to them and the kids are everything to him. He loves his kids so, so much.’’

Boral concrete truck driver Kalati Rex Toleafoa died after a heart attack at Parramatta on Tuesday, October 12. Picture: Facebook

Kalati Rex and Seu Toleafoa with their children (clockwise) Silia, Tausala and Aaron and Kalati's mother Talai. Picture: Facebook

She has now been left to organise his funeral in the Methodist church and is expecting a huge turnout fitting for a man who had many friends and a huge extended family.

Samoa-born Mr Toleafoa was the youngest of nine children and his mother, Talai, has outlived him.

The Boral concrete truck driver, who was working for a contract company R. Polites Transport, worked out of the Boral Granville plant, and had plenty of workmates.

“He’s got so many friends and people that know him,’’ Mrs Toleafoa said.