Student plunges 8 storeys

2003-05-15 12:04

Cape Town - A final-year University of Stellenbosch engineering student fell eight floors to his death in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Johan van Dijk's body was found by two students at about 03:30.

Friends last saw the 22-year-old student alive shortly after midnight in his room at Helshoogte.

The circumstances surrounding his death are not yet clear, although police do not suspect foul play.

A university spokesperson told News24 that he "assumes" van Dijk died on impact.

He added that van Dijk's family had been notified.

Van Dijk was originally from Potchefstroom, he was a member of the South African National Defence Force.

Prof Walter Claassen, US' acting rector and vice-chancellor, has expressed his condolences to van Dijk's family.

"The campus, and especially Helshoogte's residents, were shattered by Johan's death. The loss of a young man in the prime of his life is a shock to all with whom he came into contact," Classen said.

He said that staff members from the university's Centre for Student Counselling and Development have already started counselling students from Helshoogte.

- News24