Former South African Athlete Rich Holland Passes Away

Former athlete Richard Holland has sadly passed away at the age of 32. Rich was tragically injured in a cycling accident three years ago whilst training for an Ironman event in Dubai. The accident left him with locked-in syndrome and splitting headaches. After fighting a brave battle, Rich succumbed to the traumatic brain injury on Sunday.

The South African triathlete’s family posted a message on Facebook on Monday announcing his passing with the words that he had “left this earth and his tortured body to soar with the Angels”, and emphasising that it is his wonderful vibrant spirit that they would like to celebrate.

“We will never forget his bravery through the injury and the energy with which he lived his life to the full before the accident,” they said. “His humour and sweet nature got him through three intolerable and painful years of locked in syndrome and blinding headaches.”

The family said they had tried every treatment and therapy, and thanked all those who supported the popular sportsman and themselves on his journey. Expats in Dubai and South Africans around the world had rallied to support Rich emotionally and financially through a Back on Your Bike trust fund, to assist with his medical fees which weren’t covered in South Africa.

The lives of Rich and his family were changed forever on Thursday 11 October 2012, just a month before he was due to turn 30, when he was hit by a car from behind during an early morning cycle in Dubai.

His injuries were severe, leaving him with “locked-in syndrome” (full mental awareness but unable to talk or move), and the need to be relocated to South Africa so that his family could provide round-the-clock care.

A few months after Rich’s accident, a friend he had met in Dubai – Hannah Marcinowicz – wrote on facebook, that she had “spent the last 3 weeks witnessing first-hand the heinous and cruel reality of living with ‘Locked-in Syndrome’…yet, I have also seen first-hand how Rich is navigating everyone down this unfamiliar path with exceptional grace, charm… and copious amounts of wit!”

She spoke of how he could communicate with only his eyes and thumb, how he would play ‘Thumb War’ for hours on end, and said that she had “watched a human spirit rise above the harshest blow with so much pride and admiration… and seen an incredible family pull together to get Rich ‘Back On Your Bike’.”

Yesterday, his heartbroken mother, Judy Rothschild, said that even with no audible voice he “said more than anyone with a voice could have said”. In a message to Rich, she wrote: “You taught me a new language – the language of pure love. Thank you for your life and especially for the extra time you gave me to spend with you over these past three years. We learnt the true meaning of love.”

Rich’s carer “Bennie” posted the following message this week:

Richie’s life will be celebrated on Saturday 14th November 2015 across the world – from Dubai to the UK, Australia, USA and SA – with the release of orange or white balloons, with “personal send off” messages attached. Friends and family are asked to wear orange. For further details, please see Back on Your Bike. (Please note, Rich’s family say: “out of respect and protection for the ocean and the fishes that Richie loved so much, we have decided to release balloons from our home where they are less likely to impact the sea. ??????”)