Charles Aikenhead, owner of the Rorke’s Drift Hotel, collapsed and died this afternoon (Tuesday)  while attempting to fight a fire.

Johann Hamman, a fellow guide, said while details are still sketchy it appears as if Charles and his hotel staff were burning firebreaks this morning when a wind came up.

The fire spread to one of the buildings at the Lodge to where Charles rushed in a bid to save the structure. It was then that he collapsed.

“Those assisting with the fire and his staff took him to the nearby Rorke’s Drift Clinic where nursing staff did all they could to revive him but he sadly succumbed before the ambulance could arrive,” Johann said, referring to information he had received from fellow tour guides.

Johann said the death of Charles would be a huge shock to his family in the UK.

“It is also another blow for the local  tourism industry and a massive loss for the area. Already this year we lost a tour guide in Norman Parkinson and now Charles – it is really so tragic. We will remember him with fondness.”

Johann also added that it was only in April that legendary tour guide, Evan Jones, had passed on.

Charles, a retired officer in the British Army, who had previously lived in Ladysmith, had a pioneering spirit and some years ago built the Rorke’s Drift Hotel overlooking the Buffalo River. Charles also started the Zulu Zebras/Redcoats football match. The match is held annually on January 22 to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.

Charles said the match was a way of remembering the brave men from both sides who fought in the battle and to promote reconciliation.

Naresh Gopie of Dundee Tourism, that helped to sponsor the match, described Charles’s sudden passing as  ”a huge loss”.

More details will be published when these become available

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