Australians have set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds for Ludi Vink’s grieving South African family.
A message on the GoFundMe page says: “Ludi was tragically murdered while trying to stop a fight between two people he didn’t know, pushing his mum into safety and protecting those around him.
These funds will assist the family with funeral costs and cover expenses while they stop work to grieve the loss of Ludi.”
Ludi Vink, a 30 year old brave hero who grew up in Johannesburg was tragically stabbed on Tuesday, February 21, at Mitzy’s biker club in Alberton while trying to break up a bar fight.
Vink and his mother, Danlee, apparently went out for drinks on Tuesday night when a fight broke out in the bar.
CCTV footage from the bar shows a fight breaking out and a young man (Ludi) seems to try and break up the fight. A bigger man walks across the floor, picks up a pool cue from the table and thrusts the cue up towards Ludi’s face.
The brave hero fell to the floor before being rushed to Natalspruit Hospital and then transferred to The Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (Johannesburg).
His mother, Danlee Vink, posted on her Facebook page: “My heart is ripped out, my soul in pain. My darling, beautiful, kind son, Ludi Vink. So pointlessly and savagely ripped from me. Today 9am we say our last goodbyes. Every part of me is in pain …”
His life support was set to be switched off on the next day at 9am, but his operation time was moved to 1:30pm – he went into theatre at this time, where they successfully removed all organs before turning off life support.
The family have been told he will save a minimum 8 lives from his donation.
Vink’s fiancé, Clare Boadle, arrived from Australia on the morning of the operation to say goodbye to him. She also opened up about his heart being donated to a patient that was fighting for his life in Cape Town.
“Today I said goodbye to the love of my life, best friend and soul mate. I’m so glad I got to hold you and kiss you one last time.”
“Ludi was declared brain dead after being brutally attacked.”
“He was kept alive on life support so that he can donate all of his organs with the first being his heart going straight to a patient in Cape Town.”
“I don’t know how I’ll do this without you. I love you and I’m yours forever.”
After her friend created the fund-raising page for Ludi’s parents, Clare asked her friends on facebook yesterday to “please help his mother and father while they deal with their loss.”
She said there will be a memorial on Tuesday at Newmarket Methodist Church in Johannesburg “for those that can make it. Otherwise, please have a beer for Ludi on this day.”
Since the incident the man accused of attacking the artist, appeared in court in Palm Ridge after handing himself over to police. He is currently out on bail awaiting his trial.
Vink’s sister, Karla also wants social media to stop sharing the CCTV footage and rather remember him for the amazing human that he was.
“Please share.”
“This is the memory we want everyone to have about Ludi Vink. Not the violent and inhumane video footage that has been released.”
“Ludi was a lover, always. Here he is in nature with our dad, Lute Vink, the weekend before the attack.”
Watch and share the video below:
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