What would have been an ordinary day turned tragic when a 29-year-old Equestria man witnessed his partner being hit by a car just after they shared a hug.

It was a Sunday afternoon when Reino von Wielligh and his partner of five years, Annien Muller (22), were driving back to Pretoria from a wedding in Potchefstroom, North West.

Annien’s twin sister tied the knot that Saturday. The pair drove in separate cars as Annien had driven down earlier to help with the wedding preparations.

As they were driving back along the N14 after the R511, Reino, driving ahead with their dog Xara, had an accident that led to his car rifting and eventually rolling twice.

“The car rolled a few times and landed on the roof. I got out of my seat belt and kicked my side window open,” he said.

“I got out, ran to Annien to tell her I am okay. She came off the road, stopped with her hazards on, and she ran towards me to see if I was okay.

“In that moment another car slid off the road and hit her from behind after I gave her a hug to say I am fine. The car grabbed her just in front of me.”

The 29-year-old said he held his partner in his arms as he waited for help to arrive.

“She was still alive at that stage,” he said.

“She could not speak, she was not responsive, but she had a pulse.”

It was at that point that Reino asked someone to check on Xara, the dog that was left in his car. When the person opened the door to Reino’s car the confused dog ran over the road.

After a few attempts, even by Reino to get the dog, it kept running until it eventually went missing.

“An off duty paramedic offered to stay with Annien as I tried to get Xara, but she kept running, obviously because she was scared. I realised I wasn’t going to catch her, so I turned around and I sat there with Annien until the paramedics arrived,” he said.

“They took her away and she passed away later at the hospital.

“I will miss her dearly and I am just going to hold on to the Lord during this tough time. I am not going to try and understand why she was taken so early because I am choosing to trust the plans that the Lord has for our lives.”

Reino described his partner as a loving person who always wanted to help others.

Annien was a fourth year medicine student at the University of Pretoria, a career which would enhance her ability to help others.

As an organ donor, even in her death, Annien would assist over 170 people with her bone tissue.

“She had bad spinal and head injuries, so they couldn’t use a lot of her organs, but they can use her tissue and this will enable her to help over 170 people,” Reino said.

“She lived to support and uplift people.”

A search was launched for Xara and almost a week later she was found 200 meters away from the accident scene.

Diane Logie of Healthy Hound said the dog was found in an open veld near Diepsloot.

“Xara was found in a good condition except for a cut under her eye. It was actually a miracle that she was found like that.”

Reino said he was grateful to all the role players who assisted with helping find Xara, who would forever be a reminder of the bond he shared with Annien.