SA pilot cremated in China
2004-05-30 21:13
Port Elizabeth - Allan Honeyborne, the 34-year-old adventurer whose microlight crashed in Central China last week, will be cremated in China this week.
Honeyborne's mother, Jocelyn Honeyborne, will fly to China on Tuesday to make arrangements for his cremation.
He was an electronic engineer and unmarried. Honeyborne died on Thursday after his microlight's wing apparently broke off when he encountered dense cloud cover.
He and his co-pilot, Ricky De Agrela from Cape Town, were on their way to Changsha, the capital of the Chinese province Hunan, when the accident happened.
The two South Africans started their world tour last year to celebrate South Africa's 10 years of democracy and to collect funds for the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town.
"My husband and I cried uncontrollably this weekend when we saw Allan's body on a Chinese television programme," Honeyborne said.
"It was lying on an open piece of grass after it was hauled out of a lake.
"I could clearly see the emblem of the South African flag on his helmet. There was a slight dent in the helmet. We're just thankful Allan wasn't mangled in the accident."
She said De Agrela has to stay in China to help the civil aviation authority in their investigation into the accident.
"I am anxious to get to Ricky so that I can support him in this trying time," she said.
A post-mortem will soon be performed on Allan's body.
Honeyborne said Allan will be cremated in Changsha, close to where the accident happened. She will return to South Africa with his ashes on June 7.
She said Allan was very fond of the Baviaanskloof, and his ashes will be scattered there.