A Tribute to a brave man

On yesterday's news:

"A pilot from Bloemfontein is in a critical condition in Rosepark
hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm while in mid-air yesterday.

Forty-three-year old Danie Minnie, an experienced pilot, was alone in the plane when the incident occured. As he was circling the Rand Airport, he started to feel sick and subsequently decided to fly back to Bloemfontein. It would be easier to land the plane in Bloemfontein than at the busy Rand Airport. After losing all feeling in the left part of his body, he still managed to land the plane and park it in a hangar back in Bloemfontein. "

On a blog page his brother wrote:


"Ladies and Gents,

I just want to take the opportunity to THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all your prayers for Danie, he is my brother and we are so CLOSE, NO PEN ON EARTH will and can express our feelings for each other.

Here is a short description on what happened as I got it from his wife Odette.

He was on his way from Bloem to fetch one of the Citation owners at Rand Airport.
On his approach, the Air Traffic Control put him in a hold for a while.
In the hold he began to feel sick and started vomitting.
Not sure if he attempted to land at Rand or not, but he requested to return to Bloemfontein.
Abeam Welkom, he lost sensation on the left side of his body.
He managed to land the plane safely in Bloem and park it in the hangar, as usual precisely on the spot.
He called Odette to say he cannot move and she must come and help him a.s.a.p
That is when she called me crying to say that he is very sick and it sounded like he suffered a stroke as his speech was very unclear.

She asked me to contact the ambulance at Rosepark Hospital.
On her arrival at the airport, she found him in the seat in a semi-conscious state, he was able to give her this information, but it was very difficult for him to speak.
Thanks to Jean, ambulance driver and his team who responded so quick to assist.
They battled about 30 minutes to get him out of the cockpit.

On their arrival at the Hospital, he was already going into a deeper coma.
Attempts were made to relieve the pressure in the brain.
His condition was critical.
They did allow us to see him.

The latest report is that the pressure in the brain is dangerously high.
They are going to reduce the sedation to test brain functionality.

Only prayers will carry him PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY.........

Then early this morning:

I received confirmation from Odette just now 09H55 that he is brain-dead no activity at all .......

Jannie Minnie

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Bloemfontein is 400kms from Johannesburg - not a short distance to cover when feeling sick and probably realizing that something very serious was wrong.

He was also known by the name of Clouddancer.
How sad.