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British Couple Drown On Honeymoon In South Africa Just Six Days After Exchanging Wedding Vows

By Angelica N. Sumter
Published on: 17:54 PST, Oct 24, 2015

Tragedy strikes when a British couple, who exchanged their wedding vows just six days ago, drowned on their honeymoon in South Africa after going for a swim and getting caught in a rip tide at a beach in Plettenberg Bay. According to the Mirror, the bodies of John and Lynette Rogers were discovered separately, washed ashore on Robberg Beach Friday by members of the public.

After tying the knot last Saturday in the presence of family and close friends, 26-year-old Lynette, who was an NHS physiotherapist from Hollywood, County Town, traveled to Dublin the following Monday with her new husband John, 28, also from County Town, and wrote the following message on Facebook, which read, “John and I would like to thank to everyone who joined us on Saturday and for all the well wishes. We greatly appreciate it and had the best day ever. Heading off today so we’ll speak to everyone when we return.”

However, the honeymoon tragedy struck just three days after the newlyweds arrived in South Africa on Tuesday when they decided to go for a swim at Robberg Beach and drowned, according to the Guardian. Sources say no one witnessed the drowning, but a local man who was walking on the beach did discover John’s body some time later. Two women who were “walking further along the golden sand” discovered Lynette’s lifeless body.

The rescue team was alerted and they tried desperately to resuscitate the couple, but it was to no avail. They were both pronounced dead at the scene by an onsite doctor. Police officials have investigated the horrifying incident and have since ruled it an accidental drowning. They are working closely with the “British Counsel to have their remains brought home following a medical examination.”

“It’s such a sorrowful, terrible, devastating day,” a family friend said after learning of the couple’s demise. “They were two beautiful people just starting out together and now they’ve gone. We’ve been told the authorities believe they got caught in a rip tide while they were swimming at Plett Bay. They were both healthy, both decent swimmers and both very physically fit but the tide was just too much for them.”

“Our dear Lynette and the love of her life John, died a day short of their first week of married life. In their wedding vows they promised to be by each other’s side in good times and in bad but they could never have imagined this.”

“We’re struggling with the shock of the news but we’re grateful that at least they were together when this tragedy unfolded,” the couple’s friend added. “There is some comfort in the fact that they were both recovered from the water and we will be able to bring them home.”

“The terrible shock, the grief and the heartache of these two families are unimaginable. John and Lynette were lovely young people whose lives have suddenly and tragically been snatched from them while on their honeymoon,” said Sylvia Hermon. “I feel profoundly upset for their grieving families and friends who have to cope with this awful tragedy.”

After John and Lynette’s body were found dead after an accidental drowning, a spokesman from the National Sea Rescue Initiative said, “It is believed that they had gone to swim shortly after arriving in Plettenberg Bay on holiday. It is suspected that they drowned. Sea conditions were rough with strong rip-currents in the vicinity. Police have opened an inquest docket and although no foul play is suspected the deaths are being investigated.”

“The bodies have been handed into the care of the forensic pathology services. British authorities are assisting with family abroad. The emergency services and those involved have expressed sincerest condolences.”

[Image via Shutterstock]

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