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Cape Town - After over two weeks of waiting for news of the whereabouts of their son, the parents of Shaun Beukes finally know what happened to him.
Beukes, an IT salesperson from Bryanston, was last seen at the start of the month in the Grand Bahama island area.
He had been in the US for a work conference which finished at the end of April and had then gone to the island resort to catch up with a friend. He failed to make contact with his loved ones thereafter.
Family spokesperson Greg Wells-Clifton told News24 the Department of International Relations and Cooperation contacted them on Tuesday to confirm that Bahamaian authorities had informed them of Shaun’s death.
He had died on Sunday May 3.
Funeral arrangements
South African authorities are overseeing the repatriation of his body whereafter funeral arrangements will be made, Wells-Clifton said.
“This has been an awful time for everyone who had known him. Shaun was an awesome, honest, humble and sincere guy whom we thought would be around forever. He was a wonderful man.”
An initial autopsy was conducted in America to rule out foul play. A more thorough post mortem to determine the cause of Shaun’s death will be conducted once his body is on South African soil.
Wells-Clifton said Shaun suffered from asthma and that he may have succumbed to a severe attack as he was found with his pump in his hand.
Called the police
It is believed Shaun had phoned the police to say he was unable to breathe, Wells-Clifton told News24 yesterday.
Although officers responded immediately, he had already collapsed by the time help arrived, he confirmed.
He was reported missing at the Norwood police station several weeks ago.
A Facebook page called "Find Shaun Beukes" was established for information and updates. The page has been closed.
