A number of close family and friends spoke at the venue about the deceased.
Family, friends and those touched by the lives of the late scuba divers gathered on 27 July to celebrate their lives in what they felt was the best way.
Peter Road towards Chestnut Road adjacent to Scubaversity was jam-packed with the cars of visitors who came out in numbers to pay their heartfelt tributes to the affected families.
Mandy Zietsman talking about her beloved partner, Colwin Setzkom. Photo: Siso Naile.
The four scuba divers, Colwin Setzkorn, Melani Cilliers, Marie Snyman and Matthew Baartman, were killed in a tragic head-on collision involving a truck in northern KwaZulu-Natal while travelling back from Mozambique on 22 July.
Colwin’s life-partner, Mandy Zietsman, who was very close to the ‘awesome foursome’ as they were described, shared heart-warming sentiments about each of the divers in her speech. She described Matthew as one of her true friends who was always there; Marie as the sweetest, kindest and most environmentally-friendly person she ever knew; and Melanie as always laughing and smiling. “She was so loved, she was a like a sparkling diamond, I don’t know how am I going to live without her,” said a teary Mandy, who lamented that she has lost her daughter and had no idea how she would replace her.
Colwin Setzkorn’s emotional family sharing a few words during the farewell to the late scuba divers. Photo: Siso Naile.
She relived the moment when Annie Brown, a senior associate, broke the sad news of the divers’ deaths. “She said ‘Everyone’s gone’ and I said ‘What do you mean everyone is gone’. She repeated her words and I told her that was impossible, how could everyone be gone? I said ‘You have got to be lying to me’,” Mandy explained, refusing to believe the news.
Annie, in her speech on behalf of the associates, described Colwin as a man of integrity. “How dare they cause us so much pain? I wanted them to stop it and come back home but it’s true my screaming won’t help me or them, so I will choose to keep them close to my heart. It was as if the really precious were travelling in that car.
Colwin, you were a man of integrity and solid as a rock, I knew if I needed you, you wouldn’t hesitate to help,” she said, describing Colwin as the instructor she liked training with best.
Colwin’s life-partner, Mandy Zietsman, receiving comfort from close friends and family during the farewell for the late scuba divers. Photo: Siso Naile.
A number of close family and friends spoke about the deceased at the venue.
Dick Botha, an intern, was amazed by the support at the ceremony. “It’s amazing to see how many people’s lives have been touched by these four people,” a thankful Dick said.
The four divers were cremated last week.
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