A 43-year-old wife and mother of two tragically died in Pretoria West on Tuesday after a rock thrown through the window of her vehicle, slit her throat. The tragedy happened at around 21:30.
Irene Myburgh (43) and her husband, Pieter (42), were travelling on the R24 between Rustenburg and Magaliesburg when they turned into Pelindaba Road to Pretoria West. Hans Myburgh, Irene’s brother-in-law, said the couple were on their way from their home in Rustenburg to the Unitas hospital in Centurion where Irene would have undergone surgery the following day (Wednesday).
“They passed the first toll gate and as they drove underneath the Atteridgeville bridge, an enormous rock struck Irene’s side of the windshield,” Hans said.
“The stone hit her under the chin against the throat. Her throat was cut open and the passenger seat she was sitting in broke on impact.”
Hans said Pieter initially thought he had crashed the vehicle against something but then saw Irene lying lifelessly in the seat beside him.
“He desperately tried to resuscitate her while he was driving to the next toll gate,” Hans said.
“Another vehicle stopped behind them and the occupants who had witnessed the event, went with Pieter to the Pretoria West hospital. Hans carried her body inside and called for help. But there was nothing they could do for her as she was already dead.”
Hans said his brother and their two children were heartbroken. “She was like a mother to my own children and we all loved and admired her very much.”
The couple’s daughter is currently writing her matric exams and their 12-year-old boy writes Afrikaans on Friday.
Pieter and Irene were high school sweethearts. The couple celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in September.
The rock that killed Irene.
The couple’s vehicle.
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