SA firm to bring back victims

2007-05-09 19:31

Johannesurg - A South African company is helping to repatriate the bodies of several South Africans who died in the Kenya Airways plane crash in Cameroon at the weekend.

Europ Assistance SA medical division manager Diana Sharp said on Wednesday "We are in contact with our team from Cameroon Assist and, as soon as the bodies have been identified, we will be co-ordinating their return to South Africa.

"Clearly, we would prefer reuniting families, but unfortunately this is a case where that is not possible."

Sharp said the company would offer bereavement counselling to relatives and help with burials.

Kenya Airways flight KQ 507 crashed during a storm late on Friday night, shortly after take-off from Douala in Cameroon.

Crash site difficult to work

It was bound for Nairobi in Kenya and all 114 people on board, including seven South Africans, died.

Sharp said the plane crashed into a mangrove swamp, which resulted in much of the debris sinking, and the terrain called for specially-designed vehicles such as 4x4s. Much of the search is taking place on foot through thick mud.

"This could be a long process as the crash site is difficult to work in."

Europ Assistance SA offers help in health, travel and emergency situations.

"We have made use of our international network, and more especially our agents in Cameroon to mobilise quickly and embark on the search," said Sharp.

- SAPA