Dutch fan dies on Africa road trip to World Cup


A Dutch soccer fan travelling overland to this week's World Cup in South Africa has died en route in Malawi, the police said late yesterday.

Sixty-year-old Henk Witjs, part of a 100-strong group of Dutch fans who wanted to get to the tournament by road, drowned last week in Lake Malawi after ignoring warnings about strong currents.

"He was later found dead on Wednesday after drowning in Lake Malawi... we are still investigating what might have transpired leading to his death," National police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said.

Members of the 22-vehicle convoy, which left Amsterdam on April 3, had a "very emotional memorial service at the edge of the lake" in the landlocked southern African nation, South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper said.

Dutch fans would wear black armbands over their orange soccer jerseys for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, the paper added.

Read more: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=439429&type=Sports#ixzz0q9vyrW1m

Seriously won't be the last death. Hopefully not too many die on the roads over there.

Seriously won't be the last death. Hopefully not too many die on the roads over there.

He drowned had absolutely nothing to do with the roads.

oh get over it already. people travel all over the world and ge involved in issues. i wont deny that sa has a crime problem, but ive been there so many times and never had an issue. its only if you stupid then you asking for trouble.

people need to get over the fact that africa is a dark continent.

RIP