Update

GEORGE NEWS - They were the best grandparents any kid could ask for and as a couple they were inseparable.

This is how the family of Ren (81) and Leonie (77) van Dyck from Herold's Bay described the couple during an exclusive interview with George Herald yesterday, Wednesday 6 April.

The Van Dycks were found on a bench at Voëlklip overlooking the ocean on Sunday afternoon, 3 April at about 16:30 with gunshot wounds to their heads. Ren passed away on the scene, while his critically injured wife was transported to hospital. She passed away early on Tuesday morning.

Janka van Dyck, their daughter-in-law who also lives in Herold's Bay, said they were a big part of her family's life.

"They were the most amazing grandparents and parents. They never said no, not once refused when their help was needed. They did everything together and would always make time for the kids and help with homework, especially the Afrikaans-klanke, because I don't speak Afrikaans that well. They were really the best and my father-in-law always ended a conversation with a joke," she said.

The couple's middle son, Jaco, said the family is still in shock. "We did not see any of this coming or ever thought that it could. There were no warning signs and all seemed fine. 

"There is so much to come to terms with and as a family we just need time to process everything. It is an extremely difficult time for the family and we kindly ask the public to understand and respect that," said Jaco.

The family expressed their disappointment that the identities of their beloved parents had been revealed by certain media as the circumstances surrounding their deaths could impact negatively on the younger grandchildren. Now that their names have been made public, it will be difficult to shield them from these details.

George Herald respected the family's wishes to withhold their parents' names, but this became pointless once their identities were made public by the mainstream media on Tuesday.

The Van Dycks leave behind four sons and their wives, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The couple moved to Herold's Bay eight years ago and lived in Ren's mother's home which had great sentimental value to him.

Thank you

The family thanked the paramedics, police and especially the Herold's Bay community for their support, prayers and messages of condolences.

Funeral arrangements had not been finalised at the time of going print.

Ren and Leonie van Dyck Photo: Facebook

Passer-by's experience

A passer-by, who asked that his name not be mentioned, was planning to go fishing when he came across the scene. He said there was a calmness at Voëlklip that afternoon, a peace and quietness that can't really be put into words.

Minutes earlier he was making a video in which he explained how beautiful Voëlklip is and that one usually only hears bad news about the scenic area. "It was a beautiful day, especially looking out over the ocean. A minute later as I'm driving, I came across the couple on the bench. I was not the first person on scene as a family member and a police vehicle, that had just arrived, were already at the bench.

"The man had passed but his wife was still alive. It was a sad scene to witness," the man said.

George detectives are investigating the deaths.

Voëlklip offers some of the most spectacular views in the world.