---------------------------------------------------------- Commander-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 10/27/05: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:31 PM - Landing on golf course in South Africa (nico css) 2. 12:49 PM - Re: Landing on golf course in South Africa (John Vormbaum) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:31:36 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Commander-List: Landing on golf course in South Africa --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" Plane nearly beheads golfers Oct 26 2005 10:43:58:777PM Jackie Pienaar and Malani Venter The retired MD of the Phalaborwa Mining Company and his fiancee were nearly beheaded by a plane making an emergency landing at the upmarket De Zalze wine estate golf course. Stellenbosch - The retired managing director and chairperson of the Phalaborwa Mining Company and his fiancee nearly died after the wing of a Harvard plane, whose pilot had to make an emergency landing, hit their golf cart on the upmarket De Zalze wine estate's golf couse. Alfred Leroy, 79, probably saved his own and Mary-Ann Brewster, 54, his fiancee's life when he stepped on the accellerator from the passenger seat after Brewster had frozen up behind the wheel. When Leroy stepped on the accellerator, the golf cart moved slightly out of the way. But one of the wings nevertheless took off the roof, and Leroy and Brewster fell out. The unconscious Leroy was taken to the Stellenbosch MediClinic, where he received 20 stitches to a wound to his head. 'Very unfortunate' Brewster, who runs a health shop in Phalaborwa, suffered severe bruising. She was discharged from hospital on Wednesday afternoon, said Nelia Vivier, a spokesperson for the hospital. Kevin Bell, a commercial pilot and probably the most experienced Harvard pilot in the country was at the controls of the plane. "I hate to think what might have happened if he was not at the controls," said Space du Preez, chairperson of the Stellenbosch Flight Club. "He must have used all his experience to prevent a tragedy." Du Preez described the event as "very, very unfortunate". "I'm talking to the De Zalze estate and we will support the victims in any way we can." A very shocked Brewster, who arrived in the country from Britain in 1972, said on Wednesday that she and Leroy were engaged and that they were staying at De Zalze for their "second honeymoon". Leroy is an American who settled in South Africa in 1976 and a keen golf player. Brewster was driving the golf cart when she noticed the plane circling and coming in low to land. About 100m away, the plane landed, but suddenly turned and headed straight for them. "I turned into stone from shock," she said. "Al(fred) stepped on the accellerator and we moved away slightly. The wing took of the whole roof. Blood was flowing from Al's head. If we had not moved away, we would have been beheaded." Leroy said they teed off at the 10th hole and had progressed to the 17th. They had reached his ball for the second shot when they looked back by chance. The plane appeared from behind the tree tops and lost altitude. The next moment it landed on the fairway about 100m away. "There was very little space between the sand pit and the trees," he said. "The plane couldn't stop quickly enough and took off the top part of the cart." Despite their narrow escape, Leroy said they still wanted to see a few more sights before they returned home on Saturday. ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 12:49:25 PM PST US From: "John Vormbaum" Subject: Re: Commander-List: Landing on golf course in South Africa --> Commander-List message posted by: "John Vormbaum" And all this time, I thought golf was a non-contact sport! ----- Original Message ----- From: "nico css" Subject: Commander-List: Landing on golf course in South Africa > --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" > > Plane nearly beheads golfers > > Oct 26 2005 10:43:58:777PM > > > Jackie Pienaar and Malani Venter > > The retired MD of the Phalaborwa Mining Company and his fiancee were nearly beheaded by a plane making an emergency landing at the upmarket De Zalze wine estate golf course. > > Stellenbosch - The retired managing director and chairperson of the Phalaborwa Mining Company and his fiancee nearly died after the wing of a Harvard plane, whose pilot had to make an emergency landing, hit their golf cart on the upmarket De Zalze wine estate's golf couse. > > Alfred Leroy, 79, probably saved his own and Mary-Ann Brewster, 54, his fiancee's life when he stepped on the accellerator from the passenger seat after Brewster had frozen up behind the wheel. > > When Leroy stepped on the accellerator, the golf cart moved slightly out of the way. But one of the wings nevertheless took off the roof, and Leroy and Brewster fell out. > > The unconscious Leroy was taken to the Stellenbosch MediClinic, where he received 20 stitches to a wound to his head. > > > 'Very unfortunate' > > Brewster, who runs a health shop in Phalaborwa, suffered severe bruising. She was discharged from hospital on Wednesday afternoon, said Nelia Vivier, a spokesperson for the hospital. > > Kevin Bell, a commercial pilot and probably the most experienced Harvard pilot in the country was at the controls of the plane. > > "I hate to think what might have happened if he was not at the controls," said Space du Preez, chairperson of the Stellenbosch Flight Club. "He must have used all his experience to prevent a tragedy." > > Du Preez described the event as "very, very unfortunate". "I'm talking to the De Zalze estate and we will support the victims in any way we can." > > A very shocked Brewster, who arrived in the country from Britain in 1972, said on Wednesday that she and Leroy were engaged and that they were staying at De Zalze for their "second honeymoon". > > Leroy is an American who settled in South Africa in 1976 and a keen golf player. > > Brewster was driving the golf cart when she noticed the plane circling and coming in low to land. About 100m away, the plane landed, but suddenly turned and headed straight for them. "I turned into stone from shock," she said. > > "Al(fred) stepped on the accellerator and we moved away slightly. The wing took of the whole roof. Blood was flowing from Al's head. If we had not moved away, we would have been beheaded." > > Leroy said they teed off at the 10th hole and had progressed to the 17th. They had reached his ball for the second shot when they looked back by chance. The plane appeared from behind the tree tops and lost altitude. > > The next moment it landed on the fairway about 100m away. "There was very little space between the sand pit and the trees," he said. "The plane couldn't stop quickly enough and took off the top part of the cart." > > Despite their narrow escape, Leroy said they still wanted to see a few more sights before they returned home on Saturday. > >