Young Matie student dies
June 28, 2011 
13 Comments
Franken van Wyk (22) a third year BCom law student at Stellenbosch University (SU) has died suddenly while out jogging with two friends, Johan Krige en Cornè Schoeman.
Franken van Wyk
Franken and his friends were on holiday on a farm on the banks of the Buffeljagsrivier in the Swellendam area. They went jogging at about 12:00 on a farm road and after about two kilometres met friends from Stellenbosch who were coming to join them on the farm. Franken suddenly collapsed and died at the scene. He presumably died of heart failure.
Franken, a former Paul Rooser, underwent open-heart surgery just before his 16th birthday in 2005 after it was discovered that his aortic valve had calcified. This premature calcification was probably caused by an infection het got while participating in sports while he had a cold.
Because of his young age and active lifestyle it was then decided to replace his heart valve with his own pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve was then replaced with a donor pulmonary valve from a young man who died in a motorcycle accident.
This type of operation, known as the Ross procedure, is not common in South Africa and a former South African heart surgeon, Dr Connie Botha, who practised in Switzerland, successfully performed the operation with the team of Dr Susan Vosloo of the Christiaan Barnard Hospital in Cape Town.
Although Franken limited contact sports like rugby, he actively participated in touch rugby, tennis, cricket, soccer and also played golf for Paul Roos’s first team. He also regularly jogged to stay fit.
Franken was popular and had a bige circle of friends. He had a passion and compassion for the circumstances of his fellow man and those who were underprivileged. He would have finished his BCom degree at the end of this year and would have continued with his LLB degree.
A memorial service was held on Saturday in Stellenbosch. He was laid to rest on the family farm in the Buffelsjagsrivier-valley, near Swellendam.
Franken is survived by his father, Professor Hannes van Wyk (of the Department of Botany & Zoology), his mother, Irna van Wyk (former social worker and owner of Stellenbosch Blinds) and his older brother, Jos van Wyk (winemaker).
So sad. Ek plaas myself in die familie se skoene. Ek het self ‘n jong seun van 19jr oud en ‘n dogter van 23jr. God se weë is nie ons weë nie. My hart gaan uit na julle. Mag die liewe Here julle versterk en help om te verstaan. Franken was gelukkig nie lank in ‘n siekbed nie en het elke oomblik van sy lewe geniet. Ek hou julle in my gebede.
The death of any young person is extremely heartsore and tragic. To the van Wyk family, our thoughts, prayers and condolensces are with you.
My his soul rest in peace, my condolences to the family. To you mom, dad and brother just be strong & don’t forget that God is greate, he is with you during this deficult times
May his soul rest in Peace and God keep his family strong!
It is sad to hear of such a loss. Condolences to the bereaved family.
I share with you during this period of trial, thoughts and mourning of our loving colleague Franken van Wyk. To the family of Van Wyk, the decease has lived like a hero despite other health limitations, and we have a lesson to learn from his life. God almighty rest his soul in eternal peace, and bless this family.
i might not know anyone from the Van Wyk family but I would like to pass my deepest condolences.May this time strenghten your family.
Great loss indeed. Condolences to the Van Wyk family we share your pain in the same breath hope and pray that you will remember your son, brother, dear friend with joy celebrating his life. In our prayers at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Dit is onbeskryflike hartseer wanneer ‘n jongmens so skielik uit die lewe geruk word. Mag God se genade en troos sy ouers, broer en vriende omvou. Woorde ontbreek in tye soos hierdie, maar hierdie jongman het baie ander jongmense se lewens aangeraak en hy sal voortleef in hul harte – herinneringe aan goeie tye.
What a short life and what a great loss to all of us. May his soul rest with God in peace. My prayer to the family is for God to touch them in a special way and renewed their happiness. We all shared their pain.
I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the Van Wyk family. It is always sad to lose a loved one and even more sorrowful if the departed, as your son and brother was, is a young person. Only GOD knows each person’s time of departure and only HE can also provide solace and strength in times of need. Please know that nothing happens without HIS will. Lalani ngenxeba. May the ALMIGHTY be with you at this hour of need.
My condolences go to the Van Wyk family and I will keep them in my prayers all the time. Young Franken was full of life and he lived life to the fullest, despite his passing at such a tender age. And thats what we need to remember about this young patriot and son of the soil.
He was, and always will be a Matie, and so all of us, who went through the gates of the great University of Stelleenbosch.
My hart gaan uit na hierdie familie. Geen mens sal werklik die omvang van hul verlies en droefheid ken nie behalwe God. Mag ons hemelse Vader die Van Wyk familie dra deur hierdie tyd van beproewing. Ek dank God dat Hy in Sy woord belowe dat Hy ons nooit alleen laat nie, daarom kan ons weet dat Hy ook in omstandighede soos hierdie teenwoordig is.