Linda Coetzee said she will always remember her partner, Cassie Booyse, for the wonderful man he was.
Booyse’s fans might know him better as the internet sensation, Vernon Koekermoer.
He died at his home in Benoni on August 14 at the age of 67.
Coetzee said she believes the medication from his several hip operations over the years took its toll.
“He has been experiencing stomach pain the past few months, and even struggled to eat,” said Coetzee, who couldn’t hold back her tears.
On the day of his death, Coetzee said his stomach was extremely swollen.
“I was shocked when I saw the swelling. At a stage, he couldn’t walk and struggled to breathe. I did CPR and contacted an ambulance,” she said.
Coetzee said the state ambulance never arrived, so she had to make use of private ambulance services.
She said paramedics managed to get a pulse but Booyse was certified dead shortly afterwards.
“It’s so difficult for me, especially since I tried so hard to keep him alive. I’m exhausted,” she said.
Coetzee said she remembers Booyse as spontaneous and humble.
“He was an incredible man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. I respected him for that,” she said.
Coetzee and Booyse were together for 11 years.
Booyse is survived by Coetzee, his daughter and sisters.
He became an overnight internet sensation in 2008 after a photo of him at the H2O music festival at Wild Walters, wearing shorts, a buttoned shirt and a mullet hairstyle, went viral.
Booyse was so popular that he even appeared in a Nando’s commercial.
H2O Party posted a tribute to Booyse on its Facebook page: “We will always remember you on our dance floor. May you find eternal peace where no pain can reach you.”
Comments on H2O’s tribute:
Marlene Azevedo: He was such a beautiful person! Here I was in a music video with him.
Morne Grobbelaar: We will miss you.
Gerald Bosch: We’ll miss old Vern.
Sérgio Paulo Russo Pintó: RIP Vernon.
Odie Jeffrey: My condolences to you and his family…We are going to miss him at the H2O parties.
More information about a memorial service was not available at the time of publication.
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