Well-known sports photographer, Thys Lombard, dies in surf at Jongensfontein

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Tributes are pouring in for well-known school sports photographer, Thys Lombard, who died after losing consciousness during a surfing competition at Jongensfontein.

 

NSRI Still Bay responded to reports of a man unconscious in the surf zone at Sandstrand, at around 14h00 on Friday, 14 August.

 

It appears that Lombard collapsed while surfing. Fellow surfers brought him to the shoreline while raising the alarm, and began CPR once he was ashore.

 

Despite extensive efforts to resuscitate Lombard, he was declared deceased.

 

At 07h10 that morning, Lombard had posted a video on Facebook expressing his excitement at the start of the Vintner Surf Classic. He was 61.

 

 

The NSRI has extended condolences to his family, friends and the surfing community.

 

Tributes are being paid to Lombard by the sports and photography community.

 

 

 

 

 

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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