Wedding plans take tragic turn
2005-09-25 22:28
Maike Currie
Port Elizabeth - A young couple on the verge of getting married were killed in a gruesome accident outside Knysna at the weekend.
"Their marriage was sealed in heaven," said a group of young people after two of their friends - a young "doctor"- couple from Port Elizabeth, tragically died the car accident on Friday.
Doctors Rudi Nel, 25, from Riversdal, and Cornel Riedemann, 25, from Durbanville, were on their way to Cape Town to finalise the arrangements for their wedding that would have taken place in Durbanville this coming Saturday.
Nel and Riedeman worked at Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth.
Johann Roodt, a close friend of the couple, said he and Nel had started their community service year together at this hospital at the beginning of last year. "Cornel moved to Port Elizabeth this year to be with Rudi. She also started her intern year at Dora Nginza."
The couple, who have been engaged for nearly a year, started dating three years ago while studying medicine at the Tygerberg campus of the University of Stellenbosch.
Nel and Riedemann's friends were shocked by the couple's untimely death. "Last week we planned to attend our friends' wedding, now we have to attend their funeral," said Ledivia Strauss, Riedemann's best friend since her first year, who also worked at Dora Nginza.
Strauss and other friends described the couple as very happy and energetic. "Rudi and Cornel were incredible people and brilliant doctors. Rudi was always ready for fun and Cornel had so much empathy with her patients. She cried with every mother who gave birth."
Petri Jansen van Rensburg, who would've acted as master of ceremonies at the wedding, said their only comfort was the two were together. "The one would never have survived without the other."
Riedemann's parents, Pieter and Rosemarie Riedemann, said they were "absolutely devastated" by the death of their daughter.
Captain Wanita de Klerk from Knysna police said Nel and Riedemann were travelling in a white Audi when it collided with a black Colt bakkie about 19:03 near Kuitersnek on the N2 near the Rheenendal road.
De Klerk said according to the statements of the bakkie driver and his passenger, Roger Johnson and Zanel Michaels, were on their way to Knysna when the accident happened.
Johnson was not sure whether the driver of the Audi had lost control or whether he had underestimated the curve, but the Audi swerved in front of the bakkie.
De Klerk, who was at the scene of the accident, said the bakkie had hit the passenger side of the Audi. "The passenger side was completely flattened. It was not a pretty sight. There was no way they could've survived the impact."
De Klerk said ambulance staff confirmed both had died instantly.
Johnson and Michaels were treated at a local hospital. Johnson suffered head injuries and Michaels had injuries to her hands and legs. She was also provided with a neck brace. They were discharged later on Friday night.
A charge of culpable homicide was being investigated. Inspector Mark Rein, the investigating officer, said the exact circumstances of the accident were still not clear.
"Many factors could have played a role. For instance, it was raining, and the car could have skidded on the wet road.
Rein requested anybody with information or who had witnessed the accident to contact him at 083-453-5728. - Die Burger
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