Former South Africa women's all-rounder Elriesa Theunissen-Fourie and her child have lost their lives in a road accident this weekend. The two were involved in a deadly car accident that happened in the northwestern mining town of Stilfontein on Friday, 5th April.
The 25-year-old all-rounder represented South Africa in three One Day Internationals and one T20, as well as, she was part of the 2013 World Cup squad. Elriesa also played club cricket for North West Dragons and coached at the grassroots level before her child was born.
A police spokesman has confirmed the dreadful tragedy to AFP -which left shocked the International Cricket Council (ICC) and South African Cricket Board -Cricket South Africa (CSA) -who have deeply mourned the incident and expressed condolences to her family and friends.
CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe stated, “This is a dreadful tragedy in the true sense of that word. This is devastating news for all of us. Elriesa did so much for the community in which she lived and gave excellent service both as a national player of note and in the work she did at grassroots level to help in the less fortunate communities.”
Moroe further added, “On behalf of the CSA family, I extend our deepest sympathy to her husband, Rudy, her family, friends, and all her cricketing colleagues.”
Meanwhile, South Africa women captain Dane van Niekerk wrote on social media, “Rest gentle Elriesa. May the Lord bring her family and friends together.”
(With AFP Inputs)
