Malaysia Air Flight 17 Rocks Surfing Community

Story by Craig Jarvis

Stab

‘s thoughts are with Cameron Dalziel’s friends and family.

While one area of the country celebrates the surf event of the year in J-Bay, another segment of the surf fabric in South Africa is in mourning.

Cameron Dalziel, 43, was one of 298 onboard MH17 when it was struck by a surface-to-air missile fired by pro-Russian separatists on July 17.

Cameron, from Umhlanga Rocks north of Durban, home to a very tight-knit surfing community, had been on helicopter simulator training in Amsterdam. Travelling on a British passport, he was returning to his family in Kuala Lumpur when the Boeing 777 he was travelling on was struck down by a Ukrainian ground-to-air missile.

Sky News spoke to Cameron’s brother, Campbell in South Africa who said he “couldn’t beleive” he was gone.

“From an early age he always believed in helping people you know and encouraging people from being a lifeguard on the beach to flying helicopters,” Campbell said.

“He was part of the sea rescue team. He never ever wanted recognition just you know he enjoyed it. He loved doing it. If he didn’t love it he wouldn’t do it.”

Veteran Umhlanga surfer and community father-figure, Paul ‘Skin’ Van De Wall remembers Cameron with deep fondness.

An empty A-frame at Umhlanga, the place Cam knew well.

“Cameron was for many years a part of the Umhlanga beach community, being a regular member of the voluntary lifeguard movement and a member of Umhlanga Surf Lifesaving Club. His interest in helicopters was spawned when he was one of the first swimmer lifeguards to be deployed on the sponsored John Rolfe Rescue helicopters. His status as a top aviator has been recognised by the NSRI, having been involved in many dangerous ocean rescues, including the tsunami disaster in Thailand.”

A fun guy, a committed surfer, full of mischief, his loss has shaken the Umhlanga beach and surfing community deeply and his family and friends are still reeling in shock.

Cameron leaves behind his partner Reine, two sons Sheldon (14) and Cruz (4), his mom and dad Meryl and Doug, his sister Candice, and brother Campbell, a core member of the ‘Rocks surf crew.