UPDATE: Couple share frightening Sani Pass experience
Salt Rock couple, Nathan and Brigitte Renald were fortunate that their car was stopped from rolling down Sani Pass by a large boulder.
A weekend trip to the snow-covered Sani Pass had a frightening end for a Salt Rock couple when their vehicle slid off the icy mountain pass.
Nathan and Brigitte Renald told the Courier they traveled up to the mountain pass after they heard snow had been predicted.
“Since our car is an all-wheel drive we thought we would be fine.
PICS: Traumatic end to Sani Pass visit for Ballito couple
“On Sunday morning we went up the mountain and took photos and as we were coming down I was praying because I was very nervous.”
Five minutes into the drive down Brigitte saw the panic in her husband’s eyes and she knew they were in trouble. The next minute the car skidded off the road, careering 100m down until they were stopped by a large boulder.
“The wheels on my husband’s side were up and I thought the car was about to roll and we were going to die. However, the car was stopped by a rock 100m down.”
She said she does not know how her husband managed to unfasten his seatbelt and open his door.
“He got out of the car and asked me to follow him. I was battling to unfasten my seatbelt but eventually I managed to escape.”
She said another Ballito couple, Samantha Meyrick and her boyfriend Jono Douglas, were driving up the mountain and came to their rescue.
“They called the Berg Protection Services and we were helped to get back up to the road. We just want to thank everyone who came to our rescue and to Grant and Catherine Laatz who gave us free accommodation on Sunday night.
“Also to all the people that were driving past us who offered us lifts and to a Californian tourist who just wanted to give me a hug.
“To another lovely foreign couple for giving me a whole box of tissues, when I just needed one. People stopped to give us their water or whatever they had to try and help. It reminded us of all the kindness that is in the world.”
Although they escaped with just minor bruises on their legs, she said she was not planning on returning any time soon.
“It was very frightening incident. Sani Pass can be very dangerous and people need to be careful.”
She said the incident made them look at life with fresh eyes and they were grateful for every moment they have to spend on the earth.
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