The body of prominent Ladysmith dentist Dr MQ Khan was found yesterday afternoon (Monday) by divers and rescue officials after he tragically drowned in a canoe accident on Sunday afternoon at Drakensberg Sun Hotel.
It is alleged that the doctor and a teenager were on a canoe on the lake when one of them stood up, causing the canoe to capsize and throw both of them into the icy waters. There was one life-jacket on the canoe and the teenager managed to put it on in the water. The doctor did not have a life-jacket.
The teenager was saved, but Dr Khan wasn’t so lucky. An eyewitness described how Dr Khan rose above the surface three times, but then went down and did not come up again.
Search and rescue officials from Pietermaritzburg arrived on Sunday night to begin the search for the drowned man. Lieutenant Jack Haskins from Pietermaritzburg led the search. The divers, along with rescue dogs, combed the waters on Sunday night, but the search was eventually called off because of the darkness and the cold.
The search resumed early Monday morning, with rescue divers from Ladysmith joining in the search. The water was so cold that the divers were only permitted to be in the lake for 30 minutes at a time.
The search carried on all day, with the divers finally locating Dr Khan’s body at around 5.30pm on Monday evening. Divers had literally given up hope of finding the body and were busy making arrangements to return today (Tuesday) when they found the doctor.
Family members, guests and hotel staff were seen throughout the day, praying at the side of the lake for the doctor to be found.
Social Media was abuzz, with over 300 condolence messages pouring in concerning the tragic death of popular Ladysmith dentist Dr MQ Khan. He was laid to rest late last night in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Dr Khan will be sadly missed by family, friends and the community of Ladysmith.
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