CCTV footage reveals freak accident that claimed a Malvern father's life

A SON has recounted the heartbreaking moment he and his brother watched the CCTV footage of a freak accident which claimed the life of their devoted father.

Strinivasen Kasavelu Nadasen, fondly known as “Mkhize”, 63, of Malvern, had checked on some private work at a relative’s factory in Bill Wood Road, in the Queensmead Industrial area, and was getting ready to leave, when tragedy struck last Tuesday morning.

He was the depot manager for Tansnat, Durban Transport.

Nadasen was seated in his vehicle when it is believed the ground gave way and the car plunged down an embankment and into a river. A bystander spotted the vehicle in the river and alerted authorities. Nadasen’s body was retrieved a few hours later. He had sustained serious head injuries.

Varshan Nadasen said his father was going to return home after completing his work at the factory at 2am.

“My dad was hardworking and had a strict work ethic. The day he died, he was checking on some private work at the factory. He was passionate about things being done properly. He was a neat and methodical person. This was why he was tasked with checking on the progress of some work at the factory,” said Varshan.

Varshan, 32, of Sunninghill in Johannesburg, a financial consultant, said he received the devastating news of his father’s tragic death while so far away from home.

“When I got the call in Johannesburg, I did not want to believe that my father had died. During the  entire trip to Durban, my brother and I were in denial. It was only when we saw the CCTV footage that the reality set in – our dad was no more."

He and his brother were struggling to come to terms with their father’s shocking death.

“We have watched the footage many times. We watch it every morning. We know that it is traumatic and heart breaking. But we watch it because we still cannot understand how it happened,” he said.

Varshan said his father had worked in the transport industry for many years, and it was hard to believe that he lost his life in a car tragedy.

“My dad was a great driver which is why I never thought he would lose his life in his car. This is so tragic. We are struggling to come to terms that he is no longer with us. I had spoken to him just a few hours before his death.

"My brother and I spoke to him every day. He would give us random updates about what he was doing. The day before his death was no different. He had called to tell me he was doing some home improvements. It was a funny conversation. The conversation then turned into him being happy for the future to see me get married soon.

"My brother got married in March and he was so proud of that fact. We would have never thought that just a few month slater, he would no longer be with us,” said Varshan.

He said his father was a handy-man and was always strict with them while they were growing up.

“My dad lived for us. He did not have an easy upbringing so he always motivated us to do our best. He always told us stories of how he worked in the townships and earned his respect in his job. He accomplished his goals and made sure we did well in life.”

He said they would miss the daily calls to their father.

“We have been through many losses already. My eldest brother, Predeshan, passed away in 2017 due to brain cancer, and my mum, Sandra, passed away in 2021 of Covid-19. Now that my dad has passed, it is only my brother and I who are left. It is sad to think about,” said Varshan.

His younger brother, Senthan, also in fleet management, said he had lost his best friend.

“My dad and I were the same. People always said I was his mini-me. He was my biggest role-model. He could fix anything and everything. I always wanted to be like him. It is heart-breaking to lose him at such a young age,” said Senthan.

Fiphelele Mthembu, of Tansnat Durban, said Nadasen would be missed at work.

“Strinivasen started at Tansnat in 2009 after Durban Transport merged with us. His prior work was in municipal bus operations. He was a diligent worker who worked so hard that he even did other people’s jobs. He was helpful and always ready to check on things he could fix.

"People loved and respected him. He was a people’s person who everyone in our company would miss dearly,” said Mthembu.

ALS spokesperson, Gareth Jamieson, said: “We arrived on the scene to find that a single motor vehicle had lost control on Bill Wood Road before leaving the roadway and overturning multiple times, coming to rest at the bottom of the embankment in the river. Advanced Life Support Paramedics carefully made their way down the embankment. Unfortunately, he had sustained fatal injuries and there was nothing more paramedics could do for him. He was declared deceased on the scene,” said Jamieson.

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