Fiancé, father and friend remembered
“He was my friend, he was my lover”- Michelle McMullin mourns the tragic death of her fiancé, Andries Els.
The daily routine of heading to work in Apex, Benoni, by motorbike ended tragically for Primrose resident, Andries Els, last Wednesday.
Andries left his home in Mulberry Road, Primrose just after 6.20am, said his goodbyes to his family, revved and drove out the gates as he always did.
Unfortunately, he would not make his destination, instead he met his untimely death on the corner of Kraft Road and Limpopo Street, following a collision with a passenger vehicle.
According to Eric Maloka, media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), the accident happened at 6.41am and Emer-G-Med paramedics, who were first on the scene, declared Andries dead on scene.
“The other driver was declared a priority, three patient refused transportation to the hospital and an investigation was launched into the accident,” said Maloka.
The fatal crash left Michelle McMullin without a fiancé, Alicia Els and Cassandra McMullin without a father and Angie McMullin (4) without a grandfather.
“My phone had been ringing off the hook that morning, when I finally answered, a family friend informed me that Andries had been involved in an accident near Hoërskool Goudrif,” said Michelle.
“After putting the phone down, I received other messages from people who had recognised his motorcycle and were informing me of the accident.”
An anxious Michelle, rushed to the accident scene, with her heart racing, hoping to arrive at a minor accident scene.
ALSO READ: A motorcyclist killed following collision with passenger vehicle
As she charged past the emergency services personnel upon arrival, she saw her partner on the ground.
“I took him into my arms and I tried to wake him up, I could not believe my eyes,” she said.
“The paramedics told me they had done everything they could, unfortunately he died instantly on impact.
“It sounded unreal to me.
“It’s a weird experience seeing your partner of 19 years lying lifeless; you want to breathe life into their body, and watch them return to life.”
Speaking to the GCN, Michelle said her and her family said they felt robbed to have lost Andries in the midst of their Father’s Day preparations.
“We had been planning our Father’s Day celebrations, the girls had already bought gifts for their dad, and we were looking forward to his famous weekend braais,” she said.
According to the family, it was easy to spot Andries.
“He was a big friendly man, always in shorts and walked around barefoot, no matter the weather,” said Michelle.
“The only time you’d know he was feeling cold was when he’d slip a T-shirt on, and he loved to braai.
“You could walk past our house on any given Saturday and you’d find him on our porch starting a fire to braai pork chops and wors.”
Michelle further described her late fiancé as a family-orientated man, loved by friends and family and adored for his helpful nature.
“He was a mechanic, and offered to help anyone who needed assistance,” she said.
Alicia who was close to her dad, said she felt secure in the love she knew her father had for her and mostly her mother.
ALSO READ: ALERT: Motorists urged to avoid N3 south highway after multi-vehicle collision
“It was a delight to be in their presence, he would always call out for my mom using pet names such as liefie, skattebol and my babes,” she said.
“My mom woke up to a big breakfast in bed, prepared by my dad, almost every Saturday, and I would always help him where I could.
“We were very close, we even had the same shorts, and I would become his little assistant in the garage whenever he was fixing cars or bikes, I miss him already.”
His stepdaughter Cassandra described him as the father she never had.
“His demeanour was that of a big scary man, however beneath all of that was a man with a big, beautiful heart,” she said.
A funeral service was held for Andries, a motorcycle enthusiast and part of the NFC Bikers Club, at the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk, Rand Collieries, Brakpan.
“He always treated me with kindness,” said Michelle.
“I received ‘I love you’ messages throughout the day, and even after an argument I would still get my three messages one at 7am, one at 11am and another at 1pm.
“I looked forward to seeing him walk through the front door every single day.
“He was my lover, my friend, by big teddy bear and getting by without him is tough because we did everything together.”
The family thanked DEMS and Emer-G-Med for their assistance on the fateful day, as well as family, friends and the Primrose community for their support.
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