The bodies of Roland Figland and Jeffrey Wildeman are still being sought. The body of Llewellyn Wildeman was found and recovered in the Port Elizabeth area on Friday, August 17. The bodies of Leatitia Wildeman and her eight-year-old son, Luan had been found soon after of the incident of August 9. The body of Henry Waits washed out at The Dunes on Keurbooms Beach on Tuesday, August 14. Their boat has not yet been spotted.
They were all fishing together on the Keurbooms River when their small tiller boat hit a sandbank near the river mouth and then disappeared. Leatitia's body was found hours after the accident and her son, Luan's body was recovered the next morning, both near the sandbank which their boat had struck. Relatives and friends who had been waiting anxiously for news on the fate of these men, are still praying that the ocean will give back what once belonged to them so that they may find closure.
An extensive search operation has been conducted since the day of the accident and is still continuing.
"The body that was found near Port Elizabeth on Friday (August 17) was identified yesterday morning, Monday, August 20 by the family as 43-year-old Llewellyn Wildeman. SAPS stations in Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey's Bay were requested to contact the investigating office should another body be found at sea," said Captain Bernadine Steyn, SAPS media Liaison, on Tuesday.
Steyn further confirmed that daily foot patrols along the shoreline would continue.
"I was contacted on Friday by the police saying that a body had been found near Port Elizabeth. We had told the police on the day of the accident what everyone was wearing. My husband, Llewellyn wore a copper bracelet which had his name and date of birth engraved on it.
"The police explained to me on Friday what the man was wearing, and I was asked to drive down to Port Elizabeth to identify the body on Monday, August 20. I didn't look at his body. I just saw the T-shirt he wore on the day of the accident and his copper bracelet. After seeing those items I immediately felt better. I found closure. I slept better from Monday and the physical pain I had felt before my husband was found also just went away on Monday," explained Lucy Wildeman, wife of the late Llewellyn Wildeman.
Adam van Rhyner, deputy mayor of Bitou Municipality said, "Llewellyn was my best man at my wedding. He was also the skipper of the boat which went missing. I am going to miss him. I already miss him." He added that he was grateful that Llewellyn's body had been found and that his family had closure. He said, "To the families of the Keurbooms Lagoon disaster, have faith. God will give you peace and he will give back your relatives who are still not found. Be strong and pray. My prayers are with you through these tough times."
The funeral for Leatitia Wildeman and the apple of her eye, Luan, was held on Saturday, August 18. It was evident by the scores of relatives, friends and residents of New Horizon that this tragedy had a wide impact in the community.
The funerals for both Llewellyn Wildeman and Henry Waits will take place on Saturday, August 25, at 12:00 at the New Horizon Community Hall.
Bitou Lagoon Disaster Fund
A disaster fund has been established for the affected families of the six drown victims of New Horizon. The account has been opened by the acting municipal manager of Bitou Municipality and it will be controlled by the Bitou Municipality until after the funerals of all six victims. It is not yet known how much money has been raised through this fund for the families.
Van Rhyner said, "To everyone who is helping them, thank you. To those who still want to help, we opened a trust for the families to help them through tough times. Please help us, I beg of you. Even if you have R5, please donate it. Every cent will help. People wishing to donate food parcels, please drop them off at MC FM at Melville's Corner. Whereever you are, please assist us in raising funds for the families."
The account, is called Bitou Lagoon Disaster Fund and is held at Standard Bank (branch code 050714). The account number is 251 983 749.
Relatives and friends have received daily support from various organisations and members of the public. Food and refreshments were also donated to the families during the extensive search for the drown victims.
The Bitou Municipality wishes to thank all the businesses in Plettenberg Bay and all individuals who have donated towards this fund, as well as all the organisation who supported the affected families since the accident.
"I thank you for supporting the families in their time of need. I thank you for going to the river bank and supporting the families. Your contributions are not going unnoticed. To all spiritual leaders who came and had prayers on the river bank, thank you. The Figland and Wildeman families need you more than ever. I would like thank the property owners along the lagoon and of the caravan park for giving the families the go-ahead to go through their properties to be on the river bank and thank you for everyone who gave up so much to help us during these hard times," said Van Rhyner.
Hoping that the remains of Roland Figland be found. Figland's children and life partner, Belinda Solomons (centre) say they will find closure once his body has been found. From left are Raymond Solomons and his son Shagon Lucas, Belinda Solomons, Louise Adams (Figland's daughter), and Byron Solomons.
ARTICLE: ROZANO ALIE, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
