Family has now confirmed the death of Dr Monty Brink, of Constantia, who collapsed after a heart attack during the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday.
Speaking from his practice at Constantiaberg Mediclinic, Dr Caro Nel took time out from a waiting room filled with grieving patients.
“He (Dr Brink) had an enormous zest for life and lived it to the fullest every day, in every way. He loved people and entertaining and his home was always filled with people, and food,” she said.
Dr Brink spent his youth in Fish Hoek and attended Bishops Diocesan College where his four sons also went. His adult life was spent in Bergvliet and Constantia while he studied medicine at UCT, graduating with five degrees. His speciality was obstetrics and gynecology and, his Facebook page is filled with grateful patients who say he was a most caring and brilliant doctor, bringing many lives into the world.
His family posted an emotional post on Facebook reading: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, husband, brother, friend and doctor to many. He touched countless lives.”
Dr Nel said he was supremely fit and a fantastic sportsman. He played squash for South Africa for most of his life until 12 years ago. He loved the outdoors, hiking, paddling and took up cycling about 10 years ago and became one of the top in his age group in the country.
Dr Brink’s wife, Liz is a midwife at Constantiaberg Mediclinic and both his parents were doctors.
He has four sons, Nicholas who lives in Boston, Jonathan and Derek live in Johannesburg and Peter is studying accountancy at Stellenbosch University.
Shortly after news spread of a cyclist collapsing during Sunday’s 41st edition of the world’s largest timed race over 109km, race organisers issued a statement.
“It is with deep regret that the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust confirms that a participant passed away during the 2019 Cape Town Cycle Tour, after collapsing at Smitswinkel Bay,” said David Bellairs, marketing, media and sponsorship director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust.
“Our sincere condolences go out to his family. We are respecting the family’s wishes and not releasing any further personal details at this point,” he said.
Dr Nel said he was a committed man. “To his Lord, his family and friends and his patients. He had left behind a void that will never be filled. RIP our dear Monty,” she said.
In celebration of his life, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16, at 3pm at Connect
Church, 136 Ladies Mile Road, Meadowridge. In lieu of flowers, make a donation to the Zoe Project that supports the midwife unit in
Retreat.
