Swakopmund suspected drown victim’s father questions suicide rumours
By: Taati Niilenge
The father of 15-year-old, Erwin Bezuidenhout, who is suspected to have drowned at Platz am Meer in Swakopmund thirteen days ago, said he is unhappy with rumors that his son committed suicide.
Speaking to NewsOnOne on Wednesday, Marius Bezuidenhout asked why his son would call out for help if he wanted to die.
“Nobody knows for sure what happened. How can people just conclude that he committed suicide? I also read on social media that he was bullied by peers, but I am not really aware of any bullying. I might be wrong, but we cannot just conclude. I remember him as a very optimistic boy who loved to play soccer and enjoyed fishing. He was an extrovert,” said Bezuidenhout.
He said he finds it hard to talk about his son in the past, since he received the news of the drowning incident, while he was at work on 2 July, noting that his family is longing to have their son’s body recovered, in order to give him a proper burial.
“I talked to him that morning about being obedient and listening to his teachers, as parents always do. I go to the site occasionally, but sometimes rather stay home, as I cannot come to terms with what has happened. I just want his body to be found, so that we can lay him to rest. It is not easy to talk about him,” he said.
Swakopmund residents on Saturday gathered for a candlelight service and prayed for the body to be found.
Bezuidenhout extended his gratitude to the rescue team that is still at the site, trying to recover his son’s body.
“I take my head off for especially Sean Naudé from the Namibian Marshall Rangers who had been on the scene, trying to recover my son’s body since the incident occurred. That man has been giving strength to our family. He calls my family every day and has not asked for any money. He treats this case as if my son was his own. I wish I was rich, so that I could support him,” he said.
According to nearby beach goers, Erwin Bezuidenhout disappeared into the water near Platz am Meer on 2 July, between 17h00 and 18h00.
He was identified through a jacket and a sandal that were found at the Swakopmund beach on that day.
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