KZN cycling community mourns the loss of Paul Els and Ewan Cochran

WESTVILLE, and indeed, Durban’s cycling fraternity is still reeling from shock following the tragic death of Paul Els, who died as a result of injuries he sustained in a tragic road accident on Saturday (11 May) morning on Old Main Road, near Sugarloaf Centre, in Hillcrest. He was on a training ride through Hillcrest from Botha’s Hill.

An active member in his local neighbourhood watch in Westville, Els was a common sight on Hillcrest roads riding with a group that called itself the “Hillcrest Bullies”.

He was also a member of the Westville Cycling Club where he inspired many other riders, of all ages.

Els was also well-known for all the fundraising efforts he undertook for a variety of causes.

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Els was employed as the Group Store Development Executive for the Mr Price Group.

His death came just days before the launch of the 2019 Ride for MRP Foundation which took place on Tuesday, 14 May, this week.

The launch event, which typically honours the Ride’s top fundraisers, would have made special mention of Els who was the second highest fundraiser for the ride which takes place annually in December and involves a two day long ride covering a distance of over 600km from Secunda to Durban.

It raises funds as well as awareness for a series of youth empowerment programmes led by the MRP Foundation.

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On Wednesday KZN Cycling also announced the death of Hillcrest resident, Ewan Cochran.

Cochran had a long association with the province’s cycling community and spent the past two years building youth development through mentoring and sharing his love of cycling with those whose lives he touched through his work with the KZN Cycling Development Trust.

Last year he completed his first uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge.

The Highway Mail team sends its condolences to the families of Els and Cochran.