Mere months before he was supposed to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, a 51-year-old man from George in the Western Cape who went fishing with his son and future son-in-law, died after he was washed off the rocks at Fransmanshoek near Vleesbaai on Thursday.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies says a preliminary investigation revealed Jaco du Plooy went fishing with a family member and landed in the water. Emergency personnel responded and the body was retrieved by the National Sea Rescue Institute. The victim was later declared dead by paramedics on scene,” Spies says.

He says Kwanonqaba police opened an inquest docket after Du Plooy’s body was retrieved.

When he was washed of the rocks, his son Marco (19) who was with him, immediately called the NSRI for help and informed his mother of what had happened.

The NSRI managed to retrieve Du Plooy’s body quickly after the incident, but it was too late.

Du Plooy owned a construction company in George. His wife Theresa says it feels like half of her has died.

“Our daughter is getting married in September. We had things to do, children to raise.”

“My husband and I and our family are very close. It felt very unreal to me, but I know he had a very close relationship with God and now he is with his Father. I’m satisfied because I know where he is, but it still feels so unreal.

“One plans to grow old together. Jaco was an incredible person with a big heart. He always helped people. He was the best father the world has ever seen. I wouldn’t have just had four children with any man. He was a very loyal person,” says Theresa.