SA_F_2015_04_

82 SA Flyer

H

ENDRIK was a vastly

experienced 71 year

old helicopter pilot.

He learned to fly in

the South African

Air Force and made

helicopter flying his

life’s passion.

The Mountain Club writes: “Many of

us have fond memories of flying with Bees

that go back many years. During his lengthy

and distinguished career he flew for the

South African Air Force, the South African

Police Service Air Wing, the Department of

Antarctica and the Islands, the Air Mercy

Service of the South African Red Cross and

most recently Working on Fire accumulating

in excess of ten thousand hours of flying

time.

We extend our most sincere

condolences to his family, colleagues and

friends whose loss is greater than ours

• we trust that they will find some solace
  in the fact that Bees died whilst serving
  his country and the general South African
  public though his passion and exceptional
  skill. Without his skill, experience and
  bravery countless rescues of injured and
  lost people in the Cape mountains would
  not have been possible and the outcomes
  might have been very different.ˮ
  Hendrik is survived by his wife, Jackie.
  His only son, Jacques, tragically died a few
  years ago in a shooting in Oudtshoorn.

OBITUARY

Hendrik Marais

Hendrik ‘Bees’ Marais died on Sunday 8

May when his Bell 205 ‘Huey’ crashed while

fighting the Cape Peninsula fires.

CAA: 0285

NOW OPENED IN GEORGENEW SCHOOL

‘Bees’

j

Hendrik 'Bees' Marais sharing the

intricacies of his helicopter with

young Saige Nelson.