Three Rondawels death: victim passed demarcated area
We were initially informed that it was a woman who had fallen and that she was still alive
GRASKOP – A scenic tour through the beautiful Lowveld took a tragic turn at the Three Rondavels on Saturday when a 34-year-old man from Krugersdorp fell about 110 metres to his death at this popular lookout point.
Mr James Nkululeko Nkabinde walked passed a demarcated area, clearly marked with “Do not go beyond this point”, to allegedly pose for a photo when he fell. According to Mr Danie Theron of Bossies Community Justice, they were alerted to the scene at about 16:45. “We were initially informed that it was a woman who had fallen and that she was still alive,” he said.
Also read: Danie is nét die man vir Bossies Community Justice
Accompanied by members of the Off-road Rescue Unit (Orru), Sgt Leon Harrington of the SAPS K9 Search and Rescue Unit at Middelburg, as well as paramedics of Netcare 911, Mr Cobus Els and Mr Grant Bushney, Theron rushed to the scene.
They looked over the cliff and could see the body down below. “Sadly, it was clear that whoever was lying there, had not survived,” Theron said. The team had to stand off for the afternoon as dusk was falling.
They arranged that an Oryx aircraft of the South African Air Force’s unit at Hoedspruit would fly to the scene the following morning to assist in the rescue mission. It arrived at 08:30. Theron, Harrington and Mr Dewald Jonker of Orru were lowered to where the body lay.
It was evident that the victim had suffered extensive head injuries and several fractures. The deceased was secured onto a stretcher before the Oryx pulled it back up. The aircraft landed so that the body could be removed and then returned to the scene to hoist Theron, Harrington and Jonker back up.
People with whom the deceased had been visiting the area, were standing around, waiting to see how the rescue mission would unfold. Whether they were friends or relatives, Theron couldn’t say.
Also read: Body of pilot retrieved from plane wreck
Provincial police spokesman Sgt Gerald Sidebe confirmed the incident and added that they were investigating its cause. “A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” he said.
MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Eric Kholwane, also visited the scene yesterday.
