Tributes have poured in for Cape Town's “unsung heroes” Warren Williams, 29, and Henro ter Borg, 21, two of six men, three of whom were sailors, who died while attempting to save lives in the Salisbury Island sewer pit at the Durban Naval Base last week.
The men died after they were called to help Department of Public Works staff overcome by gas fumes while working in a sewerage pit. According to a SA National Defence Force (SANDF) statement a sewage valve they were working on developed a gas leak, which affected their breathing.
Warren's employer, Alan de Cerf, chief executive of Riodor Marine, a mechanical engineering company responsible for the maintenance of SA Navy vessels, said Warren was a “an accomplished artisan”.
“Warren was a selfless mentor to apprentices under his guidance at Riodor Marine, the company contracted to the SA Navy for the past four years, providing technical upkeep solutions.”
Henro matriculated at Brackenfell High School in 2014, after which he took a gap year and then joined the South African Navy.
"Since he was a little boy he always wanted to join the defence forces, something that would allow him to live out his love for the daring and exert his boundless energy. Stuff like hanging out of helicopters on ropes. That was Henro," said a family member.
Henro was on a tour of duty in Durban for the 2017 Armed Forces Day celebrations when the incident that authorities describe as a freak accident occurred.
Alan said Warren was at the Durban Navy base to carry out specialised maintenance work aboard the warrior class attack craft offshore patrol vessel, the SAS Makhanda.
He said Warren's work was not related to the sewer pit.
“On the day of the tragic incident, Warren was on the deck of the SAS Makhanda, which was berthed close to the building that houses the sewer pit. He heard panicked screams coming from the front of the building. Being the sort of person that would always selflessly help others in need, Warren, along with vessel crew members, rushed to try and assist. He was part of a human chain formed to try to rescue a worker who had fallen into the 5m deep pit,” said Alan.
Warren and Henro succumbed to the methane gas leak fumes and died at the scene.
News of their deaths came as a shock to their colleagues, friends and families.
“Warren and those brave heroes could have feared for their lives and chosen to be silent spectators, but instead they truly lived up to Madiba’s words. Warren died as he lived, a courageous, brave and yet unsung hero. Rest in peace dear friend, colleague and loved one, as always you truly regarded others as more important than yourself. Your memory will live on forever,” said De Cerf.
Henro's family and friends said he died as he lived, no holding back.