Cause of Death: |
Drowned. Colonel Johannes Wilhelm Colenbrander, an esteemed veteran of the Zulu, Matabele and Anglo-Boer Wars, drowned on the set of African Film Productions' epic film, 'The Symbol of Sacrifice'. The incident also claimed the lives of Joseph Ralph Levy and William Brown, who had just returned from fighting in the World War. Colenbrander had been hired as advisor on this film about the Zulu War of 1879 and also starred as Lord Chelmsford, the commander of the British army in Zululand. The accident happened during the filming of a scene in which Chelmsford and his troops cross the Buffalo River to relieve the garrison at Rorke's Drift. The scene was shot at the Klip River near Henley-on-Klip, about 48 kms from Johannesburg. Colenbrander and his cavalry entered the water of the Klip River and was soon in 3 meter deep water. When one of the horses took fright and tried to turn back to the river bank, the uneasiness spread and several riders were thrown from their horses. Boats were immediately sent to the rescue and most of the riders were saved. But just as a boat was about to pull Colenbrander to safety, he disappeared under the water. His body, along with those of Levy and Brown, were discovered a couple of days later. It is believed that Colenbrander had a heart attack from the strenuous swimming. |
