South Africa's newest GSM network, Cell C has lost its sales director, Ruco Durand in a helicopter accident last week. The helicopter was one of three chartered by Cell C and was returning from a company workshop at Earth Lodge in Sabi Sabi en route to Johannesburg via Graskop.
The helicopter crashed in dense woodland in Mpumalanga. Recovery operations were co-ordinated by the Graskop Police Services with the support of the Civil Aviation Authority Search and Rescue, the SA Airforce, SAPPI forest rangers and paramedics from the Graskop Traffic Department.Speaking from Graskop, Cell C CEO, Talaat Laham, said that the loss of life was tragic. "It's been devastating for those of us who were friends and colleagues of the people who died. It's all the more harrowing for their families - and our hearts go out to them."Laham thanked all those involved in the rescue effort for "doing an exceptional job, working in difficult terrain in failing light."Cell C sales director, Ruco Durand (38), and his wife, Yvette (29), Nashua Mobile managing director, Simon Herbert (44), his 36 year-old wife, Kelly, Click&Call managing director, Jarren Koppel (23), and the 35 year-old pilot, Louis Nel, died in the crash. Ruco and Yvette leave behind a four-year old son and two-year old daughter; Nel is survived by his wife and a two year-old daughter."Posted to the site on 16th June 2003
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