Cameron Waldeck-Cooks Family Points to New Findings After St Stithians Teen’s Death
- Cameron Waldeck-Cooks' family shared a statement alongside a purple ribbon, the symbol for gender-based violence
- Preliminary post-mortem findings suggested Cameron may have died by strangulation or suffocation at a Mpumalanga lodge
- Ethan Coetzee's family disputed any involvement in her death, saying there was no sign of an altercation between the couple
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The family of Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, the St Stithians Girls College learner whose death at a Mpumalanga game lodge has shaken South Africa, has publicly signalled that they believe she was a victim of gender-based violence (GBV).
Source: Facebook
Cameron and her rumoured boyfriend, 19-year-old Ethan Coetzee, were found dead at the Waterval Self-Catering Lodge by Ethan's father, Graham Coetzee, in the early hours of Monday, 3 August. The two teenagers had been on a five-day hiking expedition in the Sabie nature reserve in Mpumalanga prior to their deaths.
Family posts purple ribbon tribute
Preliminary post-mortem results suggested that Cameron may have died from strangulation or suffocation, while Ethan is believed to have taken his own life.
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After the findings were made public, Cameron’s father, Derrick Cooks, and her aunt and uncle, Michael and Lyndell Cooks, shared the same statement on Facebook. Each post featured a photograph of Cameron alongside a purple ribbon, a widely recognised symbol associated with domestic and gender-based violence.
Cameron’s brother also took to Instagram, where he described Ethan as a “murderer.”
Her grandmother, Tess Cooks, meanwhile, used social media to express her gratitude to those who had reached out with messages of sympathy and support.
Lyndell, who lives in the Netherlands with her husband and children, also responded to several Facebook comments discussing gender-based violence. One commenter expressed hope that the justice system would properly handle the case, warning that many GBV cases are unfortunately dismissed. Another paid tribute to Cameron, describing her as an “amazing woman” whose life had been “ended for 0 sensible reason.”
Coetzee family disputes any involvement
In a separate statement, Ethan Coetzee’s family confirmed that he and Cameron were romantically involved and that she had joined the family on the hiking trip.
The family strongly denied any suggestion that Ethan was responsible for her death, arguing that there were “no signs of an altercation” and that he had suffered no injuries that would indicate a physical struggle.
The Coetzee family said the pair appeared happy and in good spirits on the evening before their bodies were found. They described Ethan as a “kind, gentle and loyal” young man who treated Cameron with care and affection.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain deeply painful, with the tragedy leaving both families grieving and divided over what happened.
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Source: Briefly News
