Hilmar Backer – a life lived to the full

An experienced local skydiver with more than 680 jumps under his belt, died in a freak accident on Sunday morning in Delmas when his parachute collided with that of a friend’s, mid-air.

Both their parachutes had been deployed when the incident occurred. This resulted in Hilmar Backer’s death and his friend, Rudi Serfontein, sustaining injuries.

It might have appeared that Backer’s first love was skydiving or wingsuiting, but first and foremost, his love went to his family and friends.

This became apparent when speaking to his close friends, Joggie Botma and Dylan Whitehair, who spoke to Lowvelder on behalf of Backer’s family after his death.

The love for their friend and the impact he had had on their lives and others’ were clear as Botma and Whitehair spoke about Backer and his life in the Lowveld.

One thing they emphasised time and time again, was the absolute love Backer had had for his family and especially the bond that existed between him and his sister, Elizabeth (Liz), all of whom live in Boksburg.

“There were many weekends when he told me he wanted to go to his parents. I would say, ‘Jis, tjom, you were there just two weeks ago, let’s go do something’, and he would just say he has not seen them in a long time. The love he had had for them was incredible,” said Botma.

This was something Whitehair always admired about his friend. “Just his general way of sending love out into the world, it was on a whole other level.”

Backer was a man of many interests and, according to Botma and Whitehair, everything he did, whether it was his work as a draughtsman, a hike to the top of a mountain or ensuring the safety of his fellow skydivers and base jumpers, he did it with passion unequal to anything else.

Both Botma and Whitehair met Backer in the skydiving community and from there the friendship grew.

Botma said he will miss the little things. From playing squash and going to the gym during the week, to skydiving or base jumping on the weekend, they spent a lot of time together.

“You know, you form a bond with that person. I believe there are three types of friends. You get friends, you get brothers and then you get those friends whom you trust with your life – Hilmar was one of those guys.”

When Whitehair met Backer, he almost instantly started playing an important role in his life.

“He took me under his wing almost immediately. Overnight he became both a father and brother to me. He mentored me in all aspects of my life.”

A lot of base jumping trips involved the group of friends staying over with the Backer family in Boksburg on the way. And just from the treatment they experienced, Botma and Whitehair said they could see where their friend had got his loving and kind-hearted nature.

ALSO READ: Nelspruit Farmers Market at Oewersig an event for the whole family to enjoy

Aside from always looking out for everyone’s safety on a trip, Botma and Whitehair said Backer was always the one to make a last joke to calm the nerves.

“He had this shirt that said, ‘Konsentreer, poephol, konsentreer’, so sometimes before a jump he would look over at me and say, ‘Hei, Dylan, konsentreer, poephol, konsentreer.’ It just became a saying in our group.”

Botma said, “He leaves a void in so many people’s lives.”

Backer’s funeral will be held on Friday in Boksburg.
Marie Brey, acting head of communication of the Civil Aviation Authority, said the cause of the accident was still unknown.

“Information is still being gathered in collaboration with the Parachute Association of South Africa and the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre.”

Col Donald Mdhluli, the provincial spokesperson for the police, said the Delmas SAPS are investigating an inquest case following Backer’s death.