Kam
01-06-2002, 04:13 PM
HANSIE CRONJE DIES IN PLANE CRASH
Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje has died in a plane crash in the mountains outside George in the southern Cape. The accident has been confirmed by the office of Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour. According to his brother, Frans Cronje, the plane, which left Johannesburg bound for George around 4am, was unable to land due to poor weather conditions around 6.45am. It appears the pilot then tried to go around again and in the process, the plane crashed into a mountain in the rugged Outeniqua range. Rescue helicopters have spotted three people lying on the ground. South African Sports Ministry spokesman Graham Abrahams said: "We have heard the news, we are still trying to recover. It's a shock." Hansie Cronje was banned from cricket for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa, a move endorsed by and the game's governing body, the International Cricket Council, after admitting to taking money to fix matches involving South Africa. In August last year he vowed to stay in South Africa and make up for his "mistake". But on October 17 last year he failed in a bid to overturn the lifelong ban on playing - although he was allowed to pursue a limited career in coaching and the media.
Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje has died in a plane crash in the mountains outside George in the southern Cape. The accident has been confirmed by the office of Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour. According to his brother, Frans Cronje, the plane, which left Johannesburg bound for George around 4am, was unable to land due to poor weather conditions around 6.45am. It appears the pilot then tried to go around again and in the process, the plane crashed into a mountain in the rugged Outeniqua range. Rescue helicopters have spotted three people lying on the ground. South African Sports Ministry spokesman Graham Abrahams said: "We have heard the news, we are still trying to recover. It's a shock." Hansie Cronje was banned from cricket for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa, a move endorsed by and the game's governing body, the International Cricket Council, after admitting to taking money to fix matches involving South Africa. In August last year he vowed to stay in South Africa and make up for his "mistake". But on October 17 last year he failed in a bid to overturn the lifelong ban on playing - although he was allowed to pursue a limited career in coaching and the media.