A beloved chef, TV host, and author met a tragic end in a helicopter accident in South Africa. At the age of 43, Mynie Steffens' life came to an abrupt halt when the aircraft she was piloting crashed at a citrus farm outside the town of Patensie in the Eastern Cape on Monday, November 10th. This news was reported by IOL, the George Herald, and the Cape Argus.
Steffens, a seasoned helicopter pilot, cookbook author, and TV personality, was conducting a pest control operation flight at the farm when the incident occurred. According to SABC News and IOL, the helicopter struck power lines prior to the crash, as confirmed by the Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division (AIID). "Information at our disposal indicates that the pilot was conducting a pest control operation flight when the helicopter struck power lines and crashed," said the AIID in a statement obtained by the George Herald. "The helicopter itself was substantially damaged due to the impact force."
Photos shared by the George Herald show the helicopter lying in a patch of grass at the farm, with clear signs of exterior damage from the crash. The South African Police Service is currently investigating the incident, but have not yet responded to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Steffens was the co-host of the lifestyle cooking show Speel met Vuur, and had penned a cookbook of the same name. She started the VIA TV show with her friend from high school, Aldi van der Walt, after the pair reconnected following 16 years apart, as reported by IOL.
Van der Walt spoke with IOL about her childhood friend's sudden death just hours after the accident, calling it a "massive shock" and "tragic loss." She shared more insight into Steffens' life, describing her as someone who lived "to the full." "She was always full of ideas that had transformed into successful endeavors, and then executed them with success, winning over people as she went along," Van der Walt said of her late friend and co-host. "She could make time for people from every walk of life, and that was her priority."
The late Speel met Vuur host also "had a big heart, gentle soul, the glue that kept people together," Van der Walt told IOL. "She had patience and kindness coupled with humor, and that made her irresistible to people. I will miss my friend. Her absence will be felt by many."
VIA TV shared a heartfelt tribute to their late colleague on Facebook. "Rest in peace, Mynie Steffens," read the network's post, which was originally penned in Afrikaans. "You were adventurous until the end. With #PlayWithFire, you showed us all how to approach life with curiosity and bravery. Sleep softly."
