Families ‘devastated’ after honeymoon couple drown six days after wedding

The families of a newly-wed couple who drowned while on honeymoon in South Africa have spoken of their devastation. John Rodgers, 28, and his wife Lynette, 26, (pictured) died after getting caught in a rip tide at Plettenberg Bay - six days after they walked down the aisle. In a joint statement their families, from County Down in Northern Ireland, said: “It has come as a great shock to both the Reilly and Rodgers families to learn of the sudden and tragic events in South Africa, which has taken the lives of Lynette and John.”

Our happiness in sharing their recent wedding has been thoroughly devastated. Both were very dearly loved and brought us great joy.

Joint statement from their families

The body of Mr Rodgers was discovered in shallow surf on Robberg Beach by a local man at about 6pm on Friday. His wife’s body was found about 200 metres away along the same beach. Doctors tried to resuscitate the couple but they were pronounced dead. Their relatives have requested privacy to grieve. The couple tied the knot at the First Presbyterian Church, Holywood, last Saturday. In messages posted on Facebook Mrs Rodgers told of her excitement ahead of her South African trip. She changed her cover photo to a picture of her and four smiling bridesmaids and thanked loved ones for coming to her wedding.

There is widespread shock and a real sense of numbness within the local community in Holywood at this time, particularly as the young lady was born in Holywood, attended the local schools in the area, and was from a very well respected family.

Local MLA Gordon Dunne, who knows the family, said the close-knit County Down community was numb

World honeymoon couple