‘Bright flame extinguished too soon’: Funerals of NI couple killed on honeymoon

The joint funerals of the honeymoon couple who were drowned while holidaying in South Africa is taking place today in the same church where they were wed just over two weeks ago.

A service of thanksgiving for the lives of John Rodgers (28) and Lynette Reilly (26) is being held at First Holywood Presbyterian Church in Co Down today.

The Minister who married them, Rev Noble McNeely, is conducting the service and the interment afterwards. Many of those who attended the wedding are attending the funerals.

Mr Rodgers, an office worker from Ballygowan, Co Down, and Ms Reilly, a physiotherapist from Holywood, were on honeymoon in the Cape Province of South Africa.

They were swimming last Friday week at Plettenberg Bay when it is believed they became caught up in a rip tide. They were just six days into their honeymoon when the tragedy happened.

Billy Mawhinney, a friend of the couple, is reading one of the tributes to them on behalf of the Rodgers and Reilly families.

“The tragic events in South Africa have extinguished their bright flame too soon, but we will never forget our daughter, son, sister, brother or friend. We set out to write a tribute, but there are no words to immortalise John and Lynette,” he is to tell the mourners.

“So share your stories, shed your tears, make their memories everyone’s and remember what a beautiful couple they were and always will be over the rainbow,” he will say.

“The families would like to thank everyone involved in bringing their loved ones home to rest, we are eternally grateful in the manner and speed in which affairs have been handled.”

Last week a wreath-laying ceremony was held in South Africa in memory of the couple. John Hall, a retired school-teacher, who lives near the beach at Pittenberg Bay, said local people were deeply saddened by the tragedy.

He was one of the first at the scene and had tried to save the couple. He told the BBC that those involved in the rescue attempt were traumatised by the deaths. “The entire town has been rocked by this tragedy,” he said.

Mr Hall described finding the body of Mr Rodgers. “Looking down to the water, I saw the body of a man. I raced down, and within seconds two other gentlemen joined me, and we were able to get John Rodgers out of the water,” he said.

“Two ladies appeared, and they spotted a second body about 20 metres away, and we raced down there and got Lynette out of the shallow water. When we pulled the bodies out of the water, we were all convinced that all had been lost. “Both were deceased by the time they were washed up,” he added.

Mr Hall said he wanted to convey the sympathy of local people to the Rodgers and Reilly families.