SA father, daughter die in freak accident
AFTER five days of fighting for her life in hospital, two-year-old McKayla Bruynius died after she and her father, Rudy were swept out to sea.
They had been knocked off a rock by a freak wave.
The incident occurred in Newquay on Cornwall’s Fistral Beach where the South African family now lives.
Bruynius died last week and his daughter was pronounced dead on Wednesday at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
South Africans have shown an outpouring of support for the family and a close family friend, Terri-Anne Remant, started an online fund to benefit Rudy’s wife Lisinda and their two sons.
The fund has already raised over £35 191 (R66 152) by Wednesday.
A close friend of the family, Madelein Jansen van Noordwyk said McKayla was put on a ventilator at the hospital.
“Lisinda and her two young boys are left in Cornwall, with no financial support and no emergency measures in place yet.”
She also thanked those that donated and sent messages of support for their generosity.
“This road could be a long one. Rudy was the main breadwinner and the money will help the family to survive over the next few months.”
Van Noordwyk’s husband Armand said they lost a really good friend: “We are doing everything we can to support
Lisinda and the kids and will help her where we can in the months to come.”
On her Facebook page, Lisinda posted a picture of her husband and daughter with many of her friends sending messages of support.
The messages continued to stream in on Facebook with many South Africans expressing shock and sending condolences.
Elaine Ridgway said the incident was just awful: “Just saw this on Sky news but didn’t know it was a South African family. Just awful.”
Penelope Shepherd Mullett said words were not enough. “So so sorry words cannot convey how sorry I am. I can only imagine the pain they are feeling at such a tragic accident. RIP.”
Celia Dean Williams added: “No words of comfort can convey the sorrow I feel for you loss.
“I have only now discovered your family in this tragedy are South African. Though born in Cornwall, I am South African and feel all I can do is pray.”