Benjamin Blucher (36), who worked as the restaurant manager at the Shelly Beach Ski-boat Club, was killed in a collision with a bakkie while riding his motorcycle near the Uvongo bridge in Marine Drive last week.

Shawn Herbst, of Netcare 911, confirmed that Blucher was declared dead on the scene by paramedics.

Police spokesman, Captain Petros Mpinge said the driver of the bakkie, aged 28, was arrested and charged for drunk driving and culpable homicide.

He will appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s court soon.

After hearing about the tragic accident, Blucher’s brother Michael flew out from Australia.

Blucher grew up in Australia, moved to England when he was a teenager, before heading for South Africa in 2012.

He was a chef by trade, and worked at Cock ‘n Tail Cafe in Margate for businessman Mark Snyman. He later left to work as a manager at the Dock ‘n Anchor Pub in Margate.

When Covid-19 hit, the Dock ‘n Anchor closed, and Blucher later returned to work for Snyman in September 2020, this time at the Shelly Beach Ski-boat Club, where Snyman had set up a successful food and beverage outlet.

“Ben worked for me about seven years in the hospitality industry. He began as a barman and, over the years, worked his way into manager position. He was working his way up the ladder and will be greatly missed,” said Snyman.