By Ireti Asemota.
In a heartbreaking incident, 43-year-old TV chef, pilot, and author Mynie Steffens lost her life in a helicopter crash over a citrus farm in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on Monday, November 10.
Steffens was at the controls of the helicopter, using it to spray pesticides on crops around 8 a.m., when it collided with power lines and plummeted to the ground, according to the George Herald. The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division reported that the aircraft sustained severe damage from the impact.
Aerial photos shared by South African emergency responders Exec Ops showed the wreckage scattered across a grassy field near the farm, underscoring the crash’s devastating force.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy,” the authority stated.
Steffens was a beloved figure in South African media, co-hosting the hit Afrikaans cooking show Speel met Vuur (“Play with Fire”) on VIA alongside her high school friend Aldi van der Walt, as noted by IOL. The program celebrated bold flavors and culinary adventures.
She also authored the 2021 cookbook Mynie Plays with Fire, published by Penguin Books South Africa, featuring mouthwatering recipes for braai—the iconic South African open-flame barbecue.
An avid aviator, Steffens often thrilled followers with social media videos of her helicopter escapades, blending her passions for flight and food.
Tributes poured in from those who knew her best. Co-host Van der Walt described Steffens as having “a big heart, gentle soul, the glue that kept people together.”
“Mynie lived life to the full,” Van der Walt shared. “She was always full of ideas that had transformed into successful endeavours, and then executing that with success, winning over people as she went along. She could make time for people from every walk of life, and that was her priority.”
VIA TV echoed the sentiment in a poignant Facebook post:
“Rest in peace, Mynie Steffens. You were adventurous until the end. With #PlayWithFire, you showed us all how to approach life with curiosity and bravery. Sleep softly.”
Steffens’ untimely passing leaves a void in the worlds of South African cuisine and entertainment, but her vibrant legacy endures.
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