The family of Wayne Lendrum, president of the Valhalla Motorbike Club, continues to grapple with their loss more than two months after his death.
Wayne died after the motorbike he and his fiancé, Chantel, were riding was involved in a collision at about 10:30 on May 4 at the intersection of Rietfontein Road and Bentel Avenue.
Chantel sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital after Wayne’s customised three-wheel BMW motorbike and a double-cab Isuzu bakkie collided.
Lendrum was an amputee and had a prosthetic right leg, hence the customisation of his motorbike.
The driver of the bakkie was also taken to hospital.
Wayne’s daughter, Monique Lendrum, said it feels like she is falling apart more each day.
“It’s rough and we are struggling to make peace with. It was a normal day, and in an instant, the most important man in our lives was taken from us.
“My kids miss their granddad a lot. It was my daughter’s birthday recently, and her biggest wish was to talk to her ‘Oupie’. Thankfully my father’s brothers and sister are doing their best to provide support and strength to my brother and me.
“My brother is a quiet person by nature and doesn’t like talking about anything, so I am actually worried about him,” she said.
Monique said Wayne left a huge impact on anyone that crossed his path.
“My dad was a unique character, partly because of his size and mean look amid his soft heart. It’s also because of his life story and how having only one and a half legs never kept him down.
“He had a heart of gold. He didn’t always give us the advice and answers we wanted, but he always said what we needed to hear. That’s how he raised us, never sugar-coating anything. He taught us pretty much everything we know.
“His closest friends will tell you he was a proper all-weather friend who will support you in good and bad times,” she said.
Fiancé
According to Monique, Chantel is doing amazing considering the circumstances.
“She is so strong, and we are all so proud of her. She got badly hurt. They operated on so many parts of her body, and she fought through it all. A few weeks ago, after two months in hospital, she was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Midrand.
“She is now able to stand and walk a few steps with the aid of a walker. We are very proud of her.
“It’s tough for me and her to talk about Dad, as both of us are so torn, but we try,” said Monique
Case
Monique said she feels helpless regarding the case
“There is apparently a lack of evidence, and the CCTV footage is unusable. I have no idea how. There were quite a few people who saw what happened. It saddens me. Our father is gone. Chantel lost her partner, the man she was supposed to marry on June 8.
“A club lost their president. So many people lost a wonderful friend. My kids lost their grandfather.”
The Boksburg Advertiser is still awaiting comment from the police.
Also Read: Valhalla MC president killed in crash in Boksburg
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