Heinrich Kahl passed away
Heinrich Kahl passed away this Sunday at Waterval Boven. He was 27.
Heinrich was well known as a top level sport climber (competed in a couple of Roc & Road’s) and was fast becoming one of SA’s hardest trad climbers.
He and his wife Carlien prepared to climb All’s Bells (19 trad) at Tranquilitas. At the base of the climb was a refrigerator sized boulder which one has to scramble up on to get onto the climb; as Heinrich mantled onto the boulder it came lose and toppled over on top of him. Heinrich sustained serious internal injuries and died on the scene. Carlien broke her hand and got bruised badly but is otherwise okay.
Thanks to the doctor (Vivian I think) who rushed to the scene and the guys who tried all they could to resuscitate him until the paramedic arrived.
Heinrich was one of SA’s best climbers and a fantastic person; friend and husband. We will miss him sorely.
A Facebook group has been started for people to leave there condolences
The above report was written by: mokganjetsi
In remembrance of Johann Heinrich Kahl: 16 October 1983 – 8 August 2010
31 Comments
Very Tragic indeed!
My Condolences for his family and friends!
That is my worst for for climbing.
I knew Heinrich for only a brief while. He is one of the hardest climbers I know, with an even more rock solid personality. Sport, trad, boulder – he loved it all. My condolences to his wife and family.
Climbing the Red Column with him and Shorti a couple of years ago reminds me of his positive nature. We have lost a real gentleman.
Hi,
I’m Heinrich’s wife. Thank you for all the help at Boven. I just got out of surgery – plate and screws in left hand. Back X-rays good. The rest just bruises and rope burns. Thank you for all the prayers carrying me through this. I miss him dearly, and carry him in my heart, always! Funeral arrangements: Potchefstroom cemetery 10 am, from there we leave for the Potchefstroom NG Church Die Bult, on the corner of Esselen- and Presidentstreet, service starts at 11:30. All welcome. Thank you.
Carlien Kahl
Funeral: Friday 13 August.
Condolences to the Family.
I knew Heinrich only for a brief period of time, great man, great climber.
He recently borrowed a size 6 cam from me for Spitzkoppe, I will always remember him for one of the size 6 climbers out there. Heinrich will be sorely missed.
My condolences to his wife and family.
Ons innige simpatie met Karlien en die familie.
Wat se mens van iemand soos Exo (Heinrich), ek dink sy dade en hele lewe se dit klaar. Die enigste troos is seker dat hy besig was met sy passie in die lewe en hy was by die mees geliefste persson in sy lewe.
Heinrich
Ek gaan jou mis. Ek is bly ek kon jou geken het–jy het my lewe verryk die bietjie wat ons met mekaar te doen gehad het.
Carlien. My gedagtes is met jou. Ek het ‘n vriend verloor. Jy veel meer. Mag die Here jou troos soos wat ons nooit sal kan nie.
Every climbers nightmare…
From an unknown climber in the Cape, may you find peace and be surrounded love by Carlien and may your husband rest in peace
Carlien my hart gan uit na jou toe .. Dis n vreeslike tragedie.. Eks nogsteeds geskok … Hy gan baja gemis word .. Eks bly om te hoor dat jy darem ok is ..
Wow, heard about this yesterday and could not believe the news – it still seems unreal.
RIP Heinrich
Such a shocker & a shaker!
My heart & prays go out to his family, esspecialy Carlien.
This still seems unreal to me…. thank you Heinrich for living life fully; your friendship, passion, care and love for Carlien inspired us all. You lived selflessly and shared the best of yourself with us. A real man and a real Christian.
Carlien, all my love to you & the family. You are in our hearts and in our prayers. You are so brave and gracious in this difficult time. Thanks for shining bright even when you are heartbroken – you truly are the fragrance of Life.
Also thanks to all the Potch guys; the climbers at Tranquilitas; Gustav & his team for your practical help, support & care. You guys rock.
Het nie vir Heinrich geken nie, mar smaak my hy was n goeie siel. Awesome om sy bydrae as klimmer te gehad het. Sterkte Carlien.
may your name live on for ever. Rest in Peace, love to Carlien and family
love from David
I was shocked to learn of this tragic event and would like to extend condolances to Gideon ,Brenda and family. I will keep you all in my prayers as you find ways to come to terms with the loss of your brother and the tragedy of this accident.I will especially be thinking of you all this weekend.
With love
Tracy
In watter laerskool was hy??
My innige simpatie met die hele Kahl familie. Onthou, onse Vader is met julle!
Hai Carlien,
Jammer dit het so lank gevat om ‘n boodskap te los. Dit het my ‘n ruk gevat om die moed bymekaar te skraap. Mis die klub baie!! Mis jou meer! Mis vir Exo die meeste!! Hy was die beste voorsitter wat die klub gehad tot op hede! Hy gaan baie gemis word!! Kan al reeds die leemte voel wat hy gevul het!! Ek is bly om te hoor jy is orait! Alle sterkte! Sal hopelik more sien.
Baie liefde!
Con de Waal
A great climber and a great guy. He touched the lives of everyone who met him and he wil be missed. My thoughts and prayers go with you and your family in these most difficult of times
Die Afdeling Magaliesberg van die Bergklub van Suid-Afrika wil namens sy lede ons innige meegevoel betuig aan sy vrou Karlien, familie en vriende. Ons voel saam met julle en hierdie insident bring die besef dat die lewe kosbaar is en moet ten volle geleef word – dit kan in ‘n oogwink weg geneem word.
Heinrich, you were an amazing climber and an amazing human being. We’ll all miss you.
Sjoe, wat ‘n skok was dit nie vir my om die nuus te hoor nie! Heinrich was in Laerskool Simon Bekker saam met my seun, Wijan. My gedagtes en gebede is by sy ouers, suster en vrou in hierdie baie hartseer tyd. Baie, baie sterkte aan julle almal!
Ek ,Heinrich, Dawid, Irma ,Marinda, Wijan en nog ‘n klomp ander wassaam in Simon Bekker. Hy was selfs toe ‘n wonderlike mens. My Skok was groot toe ek besef dit is die Heinrich wat ek ken. Stekrte Carlien, my gebede is saam met jou!!!
Heinrich was in Laerskool Mooirivier and Ferdinant Postma high school in Potch.
heinrich’s funeral was this past friday. carlien, his parents & siblings expressed their gratitude for all the kind messages of support, condolences and celebrations of heinrich’s life. many thanks to all the friends & climbers who travelled to potch to say good bye to a good man.
the funeral letter:
heinrich did not have zest for life, he [b]was[/b] the zest which intoxicated all around him. he still lives; only his address changed. we wish sincerely that we may have borrowed him a bit longer. but, alas, God called him and as always he answered to God’s will. this remains unclear and we still feel like we may wake up any moment to his smiling presence. we’ll have to wait patiently till we’re called for his work is done, unlike ours. although we miss him dearly, we have the greatest blessing of all knowing where he is. in his heart heaven is an endless epitome of cliffs, caves, crevasses and no injuries. may we reach higher forever more as he has so unselfishly taught us.
amen
My sincere condolences to the family. A tragic blow and big loss to the climbing community.
To each and every one of you who posted a message, and everyone that attended my baby-brother’s funeral, a heartfelt ‘thank you’. What an amazing life my brother had, and what a beautiful legacy he leaves behind! He loved his life with everything in him, as well as his parents, siblings but above all, he loved Jesus Christ, his Personal Saviour!
The funeral was such a blessing and unlike any I’ve ever been to. It was unique, like my brother =)
To all who assisted Heinrich and Carlien at Boven, at the clinic and hospitals and during this week – thank you so much. You cannot imagine what an impact you had on their, and also our, lives.
We’re missing Exo SOOOOOO much, and we’re grateful that we’ll see him in Heaven again. May God bless and keep everyone, and remember – Keep on Climbing!!!
Errata: He loved his WIFE with everything in him, as well as his parents, siblings but above all, he loved Jesus Christ, his Personal Saviour
Hey almal!
Ek wil net se dat my broer Heinrich nog springlewendig en gesond is! Hy trou die 9Okt die jaar met Megan! Ek is bly daar is mense wat hom onthou en ek glo hy sal graag kontak met julle wil he! Hy is ook op Facebook, julle kan hom gaan add! Dit is baie toevallig dat beide Heinrich’s ewe oud en presies dieselfde naam en van het! Ons is (ek’s nie presies seker nie,help my Ronel) verlangse neefs en niggies?!?
En aan ander Heinrich:Ek en Heinrich het wel probeer die familie stamboom probeer uitle!? Dankie dat jy so groot inspirasie vir al die mense om jou was en nogsteeds sal wees! Ek glo ons Kahl’s is baie spesiale en geseende mense! Ek is bly dat ek jou kon ken! Mag jy rus en jou dae saam Liewe Jesus geniet,tot dit eendag ons beurt is…
aan Carlien: My gebede is met jou! Mag die Here die wind onder jou vlerke wees en jou styf Vashou en dra as die beproewing te veel raak! Ek het eintlik nie woorde nie maar wil nogsteeds he jy moet weet dat ons aan jou dink! En nou het jy ook die coolste van ooit! xxxx
Baie liefdie
Yolandi Kahl
I’ll always remember Heinrich for some of the most enjoyable debates I’ve had after a long day of climbing. He was an amazing person who happened to also be a great climber. He’ll be missed, even overseas here in North America.
Baie bad en baie unreal – nou gaan ons nie meer ‘n bier saam kan drink hier in die kaap nie. Sterkte vir jou Carlien.
RIP exo – gaan jou energie mis!
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