Cape Town – Forty-year-old Jihaan Orrie died in a freak accident when a heavy wooden shelf fell on top of her at work at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre in Durbanville on Thursday, and her family remains in shock after her life came to an end in such an abrupt way.
Orrie’s sister, Carmen Claassen spoke to News24 and said that the family was still in disbelief.
“We are still in total disbelief that our sister is no longer with us. It feels like a nightmare that we need to wake up from but can’t,” Claasen was quoted as saying.
Claasen said that Orrie worked at Typo for nearly 14 years, in love with her job as manager.
She added that the sudden loss was very hard for the family, and that she went numb after hearing the news of her sister’s passing.
Orrie’s husband, Riyaad Orrie succumbed to Covid-19, dying in August of last year.
“A year later and now all three of their kids are without parents. It’s very sad, I feel for them the most right now,” Claassen reportedly said.
She added that the three children are staying with their grandmother until other arrangements can be made.
Tributes for Orrie poured in on social media, with her friends and family paying tribute to her life and grieving at their sudden loss.
“I’m absolutely shattered. My heart goes out to your dear family and precious babies. You will forever be loved by so many. Thank you for being a ray of sunshine in everyone’s lives. You will for ever be missed but never forgotten To my beautiful friend,” One of Orrie’s friends wrote on her facebook page.
“The past 3 mornings I woke up with absolute dismay, a heavy silence in my soul while my mind tries to make sense of it all,” another friend, Bronwyn Jullies wrote.
“You were sunshine on a dark day, hope when hope was lost and an energy that I’ve never seen in anyone like yours that we all loved so much,” she added.
Claasen said that “Never in a million years did I think that would be the last time I would be seeing her alive.”
According to IOL, police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened.
“Bellville police registered an inquest case following the death of a 41-year-old female at a stationary shop in Tyger Valley mall, Thursday afternoon at about 12.50pm. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” he was reported as saying.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
