{"id":208501,"date":"2019-06-27T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/208501\/fiance-father-and-friend-remembered\/"},"modified":"2019-06-27T14:03:33","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T12:03:33","slug":"fiance-father-and-friend-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/06\/27\/fiance-father-and-friend-remembered\/","title":{"rendered":"Fianc\u00e9, father and friend remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"

The daily routine of heading to work in Apex, Benoni, by motorbike ended tragically for Primrose resident, Andries Els, last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Andries left his home in Mulberry Road, Primrose just after 6.20am, said his goodbyes to his family, revved and drove out the gates as he always did.<\/p>

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Unfortunately, he would not make his destination, instead he met his untimely death on the corner of Kraft Road and Limpopo Street, following a collision with a passenger vehicle.<\/p>\n

According to Eric Maloka, media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), the accident happened at 6.41am and Emer-G-Med paramedics, who were first on the scene, declared Andries dead on scene.<\/p>

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\u201cThe other driver was declared a priority, three patient refused transportation to the hospital and an investigation was launched into the accident,\u201d said Maloka.<\/p>\n

The fatal crash left Michelle McMullin without a fianc\u00e9, Alicia Els and Cassandra McMullin without a father and Angie McMullin (4) without a grandfather.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy phone had been ringing off the hook that morning, when I finally answered, a family friend informed me that Andries had been involved in an accident near Ho\u00ebrskool Goudrif,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter putting the phone down, I received other messages from people who had recognised his motorcycle and were informing me of the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

An anxious Michelle, rushed to the accident scene, with her heart racing, hoping to arrive at a minor accident scene.<\/p>\n

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Cassandra McMullin remembers her step-father, Andries Els.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0\u00a0A motorcyclist killed following collision with passenger vehicle<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

As she charged past the emergency services personnel upon arrival, she saw her partner on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took him into my arms and I tried to wake him up, I could not believe my eyes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe paramedics told me they had done everything they could, unfortunately he died instantly on impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounded unreal to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a weird experience seeing your partner of 19 years lying lifeless; you want to breathe life into their body, and watch them return to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking to the GCN, Michelle said her and her family said they felt robbed to have lost Andries in the midst of their Father\u2019s Day preparations.<\/p>\n

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Michelle McMullin and the late Andries Els at a bike rally recently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe had been planning our Father\u2019s Day celebrations, the girls had already bought gifts for their dad, and we were looking forward to his famous weekend braais,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

According to the family, it was easy to spot Andries.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a big friendly man, always in shorts and walked around barefoot, no matter the weather,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only time you\u2019d know he was feeling cold was when he\u2019d slip a T-shirt on, and he loved to braai.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could walk past our house on any given Saturday and you\u2019d find him on our porch starting a fire to braai pork chops and wors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michelle further described her late fianc\u00e9 as a family-orientated man, loved by friends and family and adored for his helpful nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a mechanic, and offered to help anyone who needed assistance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Alicia who was close to her dad, said she felt secure in the love she knew her father had for her and mostly her mother.<\/p>\n

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Alicia Els sadly looked at her favourite photo, with her late father, Andries Els, placed on the memorial stand in their home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0ALERT: Motorists urged to avoid N3 south highway after multi-vehicle collision<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cIt was a delight to be in their presence, he would always call out for my mom using pet names such as liefie, skattebol and my babes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom woke up to a big breakfast in bed, prepared by my dad, almost every Saturday, and I would always help him where I could.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were very close, we even had the same shorts, and I would become his little assistant in the garage whenever he was fixing cars or bikes, I miss him already.\u201d<\/p>\n

His stepdaughter Cassandra described him as the father she never had.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis demeanour was that of a big scary man, however beneath all of that was a man with a big, beautiful heart,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A funeral service was held for Andries, a motorcycle enthusiast and part of the NFC Bikers Club, at the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk, Rand Collieries, Brakpan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always treated me with kindness,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI received \u2018I love you\u2019 messages throughout the day, and even after an argument I would still get my three messages one at 7am, one at 11am and another at 1pm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked forward to seeing him walk through the front door every single day.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was my lover, my friend, by big teddy bear and getting by without him is tough because we did everything together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family thanked DEMS and Emer-G-Med for their assistance on the fateful day, as well as family, friends and the Primrose community for their support.<\/p>\n