Helicopter accident claims NWU 2nd-year student

A helicopter accident on Tuesday, 24 March claimed the life of a second-year student at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus.

Marlé Claasen (20) died instantly when a piece of one of the helicopter’s rotor blades broke off and hit her, Ané van der Merwe, Claasen’s roommate since Grade 8, said on Wednesday. The accident occurred on one of the family’s farms near Christiana in the North-West province.

Claasen studied economic sciences with agricultural economics and risk management.

Popularly known as “Mers”, Claasen was a “proud resident” of Heide Residence, cousin Petrie Burger said yesterday. Mené Nel, house committee member on corridor Emoyeni where Claasen stayed, described her as someone who always gave everything. “She lived in the light. She oozed love and shared it with everyone. Heaven has gained another angel,” Nel said.

Van der Merwe, who shared a room with Claasen in the Voortrekker Hoërskool hostel in Bethlehem and in Heide since 2019, said Claasen was an avid sports player. “She was in the first hockey team in high school, and captain of the team in matric. She was head girl of the hostel and deputy head girl of the school. She also took part in athletics.”

Claasen was a member of Heide’s first hockey and soccer teams in 2019 and also took part in the first-years’ concert, Van der Merwe said.

Marli du Toit, Primaria of Heide, said Claasen’s death is a hard blow for the hostel. “Her 266 Heide sisters are mourning with the family.”

Claasen is survived by her parents, a brother and sister. A memorial service will be held on the farm Sunnyside near Petrus Steyn on 26 March.