Heartfelt sentiments have been shared across Twitter after South African race car driver Gugu Zulu died while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. He was climbing the mountain with his wife, Letshego, as part of the Trek4Mandela expedition before he died today (18 July).
A statement released by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said that Zulu had trouble breathing during the climb. A medical team placed him on a drip and descended the mountain with him.
However, the team could not save him. “We are informed that the medical teams tried everything possible to save his life,” the statement said. CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, said that he recruited Zulu for the expedition. “I am devastated. I knew him well,” Hatang said in the statement. “The last thing he said to me at the airport before he left last week was that he wanted to speak about doing other Mandela Day projects. I feel a huge sense of loss.”
Community members shared condolences on Twitter:
We observe a moment of silence in memory of @GuguZulu at our #MandelaDay activities with UJ at Helen Joseph Hospital pic.twitter.com/OcypSvZntL
— Proudly South African (@ProudlySA) July 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/theyellowcap/status/754965917029785600
Really can't believe this, death is such a thief wow Rip Gugu Zulu
— KHATHU LITSHANI🤴 (@Dj_khathu) July 18, 2016
Our thoughts go out to Gugu Zulu’s family. Thank you for your contribution to the cycling community. A Gentleman. Never forgotten.
— SpecializedZA (@SpecializedZA) July 18, 2016
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. #GuguZulu #RIPGugu thats just life.
— KhayelihleKhumalo (@KhayaJames) July 18, 2016
Earlier, Zulu’s Twitter and Instagram Accounts were full of posts of him and his wife climbing the mountain.
Acclimatization day3 – just taking a stroll in the garden high above a blanket of clouds -… https://t.co/2lKARh4dZP
— Gugu Zulu (@GuguZulu) July 17, 2016
Made it though day2. My wife is doing fabulous, she has even learnt the local language. Am… https://t.co/p6wh9I04ov
— Gugu Zulu (@GuguZulu) July 15, 2016
First peek at the destination, this after being in the rain forest #Trek4Mandela #Caring4Girls… https://t.co/zadGCHanIi
— Gugu Zulu (@GuguZulu) July 15, 2016