Student dies on birthday

A BIRTHDAY drinking session with friends turned into tragedy in Port Alfred on Friday night when a Dutch university student died on the way to hospital after collapsing in a campus bar.

The sudden death of Stenden South Africa student Jurriën "Wiz Khalifa" Wissink on the night of his 24th birthday came after an alleged binge drinking celebration in the Port Alfred campus bar.

The tragedy has sent shock-waves through the university and 10 Department of Social Development counsellors were sent to the resort town on Saturday to help traumatised students and staff deal with Wissink's sudden death.

Hundreds of students, staff from Port Alfred and Holland, and municipal officials joined Wissink's family at the local Baptist Church yesterday for a tearful memorial service.

Although postmortem results have not yet been released, it is believed the exchange student allegedly choked and died after consuming copious amounts of alcohol – sometimes even downing it through a funnel.

Social Development youth development director Masiza Mazizi yesterday said the 10 counsellers would remain in town for "as long as they are needed".

He said the department and the Dutch hospitality university were involved in several upliftment partnerships in the province. He also said there would be a minute's silence during MEC Nancy Sihlwayi's budget speech in the provincial legislature for the family of the dead student.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said Wissink was rushed to hospital struggling to breathe.

He said the student was declared dead on arrival at the nearby Port Alfred Hospital.

No foul play is suspected.

Wissink's heartbroken parents, who were due to vacation with their son over the next few weeks in South Africa, left the memorial service with his tearful brother, Rutger, and sister, Femke, followed by hundreds of other mourners.

His body will be cremated and his ashes returned home. - David Macgregor