A young couple believed to be from Northern Ireland have drowned just hours into their honeymoon at a popular South Africa tourist resort after apparently swimming in the sea in “rough” conditions.
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A local man raised the alarm after fining a man’s body at around 6pm.
As the man was informing emergency services, the body of Lynette Rodgers was found by two walkers a few 200 metres, away also after washing up on the beach.
When rescuers arrived on the beach they performed CPR but after extensive effort both were declared dead.
The couple were married at a church in Holywood last Saturday.
The victims John Rodgers, 28, and his new wife Lynette, 26, had gone for a swim on Friday, shortly after arriving in Plettenberg Bay on holiday, according to South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute. The destination is on the southern tip of the country between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
The bodies were turned over to the Forensic Pathology Services for a post mortem exam as the families of the deceased are being notified.
Rescue workers said the sea was rough at the time, with strong rip-currents.
It read: “John and I would like to thank to everyone who joined us on Saturday and for all the well wishes”. For a tragedy like this to happen days after their wedding during their honeymoon is beyond words. We greatly appreciate it and had the best day ever.
She had changed her cover photo to a picture of her and her four smiling bridesmaids.
North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne knew the bride, who was from Holywood.
“British authorities are assisting with family overseas. The emergency services and those involved have expressed sincerest condolences”.
The community of Holywood in Co.
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A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed the deaths and said they are “providing assistance to both families at this extremely hard time”.
