Race car driver Gugu Zulu remembered on 10th death anniversary
· The South African
Gugu Zulu has been fondly remembered on the 10th anniversary of his death, while summitting Mount Kilimanjaro during a Mandela Day charity mission.
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The race car driver was part of a group of South Africans – including his wife, Letshego – who took part in the Trek4Mandela expedition to raise money for young, underprivileged girls.
Just months earlier, the couple had welcomed their first child together, daughter Lethu.
GUGU ZULU’S DAUGHTER PENS OPEN LETTER
On her Instagram account, Letshego Zulu shared a letter written by her daughter Lethu to her father, Gugu Zulu, on the 10th anniversary of his death.
At the time of his passing, Lethu was barely a year old.
She shared: “I don’t have many memories of my own. But through the stories I’ve been told, the photos I’ve seen, and the lives he touched, I’ve come to know the incredible man he was. I’m proud to be your daughter.
Lethu added, “Gone, but never forgotten. 🕊️🤍”
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On her IG Stories, Letshego revealed that she had “relived the trauma” of the day Gugu Zulu had died.
She shared: “The clock keeps ticking, and life carries on. But trauma doesn’t simply disappear with time. It lingers quietly in the background, even as the years go by”.
Letshgo spent the day on another charity mission for Mandela Day, with a group of cyclists for the Ride4Hope Foundation, which raises funds for underprivileged children,
WHAT HAPPENED A DECADE AGO?
On the eve of his death, Gugu Zulu began experiencing breathing problems after summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
He was immediately put on a drip, and a team of medics helped him descend the mountain. Sadly, Gugu succumbed to complications of altitude sickness just a few hours later.
Altitude sickness is caused when climbers ascend too rapidly, which doesn’t allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. This can lead to a build-up of fluid in the lungs or brain.
Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and muscle aches.
In one of his final Instagram posts, Gugu revealed that he had been experiencing “flu-like” symptoms.
He shared: “I made it through day two. My wife is doing fabulous; she has even learned the local language. I am having flu-like symptoms and struggling with the mountain, but I am taking it step by step! Today, as we managed to see our destination, and our camp is literally above the clouds!
Letshego and Gugu Zulu were among 46 South Africans who took part in the #Trek4Mandela initiative that aims to raise funds to ensure that impoverished girls do not miss a day of school due to menstrual problems.
Ltshego has continued to keep Gugu’s name alive with various charity endeavours. She has shared her inspiring story in a memoir called I Choose To Live.