Community bids farewell to Theuns

The Boksburg community suffered a great loss after the death of 19-year-old Theuns van As.

The Beyers Park resident died on September 25, after he was involved in a helicopter crash in Driehoek.

The incident occurred when the Matrix Vehicle Tracking helicopter, operated by Henley Air, which was returning from a recovery, crashed, resulting in the death of Theuns and the pilot, Xenia Joubert.

The cause of the crash is still unknown.

Theuns, who was born and grew up in Boksburg, worked for Matrix as an air tracker.

His father, also Theuns van As, described his son as an angel who was always friendly to everyone.

Since his death, the Hoërskool Oosterlig’s Facebook page has been inundated with messages about the teenager.

A funeral service was held for Theuns at Hoërskool Oosterlig, on Thursday.

Facebook messages:

Susan Geldenhuis: Theuns hulle se helikopter het by die Randse Lughawe neergestort.

Carina Viljoen: Ai, dis hartseer om iemand te verloor wat so groot impak op mense se lewens gemaak het. Sterkte aan al sy familie en vriende!

Ashley Morgan: Jy sal altyd ‘n legend bly neef.

Ryno van der Spuy: Wat ’n skok. Sterkte aan die familie. Ek en my familie het die eer gehad om hom te ontmoet.

Bonnie Boksburg Brooks: Ons innige simpatie met die Van As familie en vriende, asook met die loods, Xenia Joubert se familie en vriende.

Alriné Massyn: Geen woorde kan jul seer beter maak nie, hou jul in my hart.

Sanet van der Merwe: Ek het nie woorde om my simpatie te beskryf nie, maar ek bid dat die Here saam met jul sal wees in hierdie moeilike en hartseer tyd. Hou vas aan God en sy liefde. Hy is saam met julle elke oomblik. Jesus liefde.

Henk Botes: Only the good die young! Sterkte vir sy familie!

Willa Haasbroek: Mag Jesus se liefde in die gaping staan en vertroosting vir die familie bring.