UPDATE: Community rallies for drowning victim’s family

With technology on their side, Ballito residents joined forces on WhatsApp groups to help a woman whose fiancé drowned yesterday afternoon.

Holiday-makers Hendrik Pelser and his fiancé Joanna Truscott from Pretoria, were enjoying a day at the Grannies pool in Ballito, near La Mustique when the afternoon of fun quickly turned into tragedy as the couple were swept into sea.

Onlookers who noticed the struggling pair swam out to help them.

Joanna was pulled out of the ocean first and when the bystanders managed to get Hendrik out, he was already unresponsive.

CPR was initiated by KwaDukuza lifeguards and bystanders while IPSS Medical Rescue and Netcare 911 were on their way.

Despite the paramedic’s best efforts Hendrik was declared dead, leaving behind a distraught fiancé a long way from home.

Ballito’s, Sharne Snyman, her boyfriend Marcel Erasmus and her boyfriend’s mother, Antoinette Botes stepped in to support the traumatised Joanna.

“While we were busy trying to assist the deceased, Antoinette was with Joanna, just being with her and trying to emotionally support her.

“We asked paramedics if there was any form of trauma counselling that Joanna could get because she was shaking. She was in shock and she has no family down here. We were told that there was no trauma counsellors that could assist,” said Sharne.

From talking to the traumatised woman, Sharne found that Joanna did not have a drivers licence so she could not drive herself back to Pretoria.

“It took about two and a half hours for the morgue van to take the body away so we sat on the beach with her for two hours with Hendrik lying dead in front of her. It was very traumatic.”

Sharne and her family knew they had to act fast to help Joanna.

“Our first thought was to get a relative down from Pretoria to be with her because she could not just be alone.

“Antoinette paid for Hendrik’s sister to fly down so that she could be with her for the night.”

Sharne took to posting on a Ballito WhatsApp group where the members put their heads together to try and assist.

“We had constant support from the Ballito WhatsApp group and with help from the members, we managed to get a hold of a trauma counsellor who will be coming in today to speak to Joanna.”

Realising that Joanna alone could not carry the huge financial burden that comes with making funeral and transport arrangements, Sharne appealed to members on the group for financial assistance.

“I also reached out to people on the group to assist financially. They would still need to get the body back to Pretoria.

“Obviously this involves a whole lot of costs.

“Hopefully Hendrik’s sister will be able to drive his car back to Pretoria.

“If she can’t, we will have to find a way to get his car taken to Pretoria as well as the two ladies.”

Sharne is hoping to raise enough money to assist with funeral costs.

“Joanna is really all on her own. If anyone could assist in any way, it would be much appreciated.”

Anyone who is able to assist financially can make a deposit to:

FNB 250655

Account number: 62039865285

Miss J. Truscott

Sharne added that her boyfriend’s mother, Antoinette had arranged for a few people to take flowers to the Grannies pool today.

“To show that we as a community care, Antoinette and a few friends will also be taking flowers to the beach to show our support to Joanna. If anyone would like to bring flowers to the Grannies pool or even drop off flowers at the gate in front of The Grange on Compensation Road, we will be very grateful.”

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