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| Honeymoon drowning: Funeral of John and Lynette Rodgers takes place | Honeymoon drowning: Funeral of John and Lynette Rodgers takes place |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A couple from Northern Ireland who drowned while on honeymoon in South Africa will not be forgotten, a family friend has said at their funeral. | A couple from Northern Ireland who drowned while on honeymoon in South Africa will not be forgotten, a family friend has said at their funeral. |
| John and Lynette Rodgers, from Holywood, were found on a beach at Plettenberg Bay on 23 October. | John and Lynette Rodgers, from Holywood, were found on a beach at Plettenberg Bay on 23 October. |
| Efforts were made to resuscitate them, but they were declared dead at the scene. | Efforts were made to resuscitate them, but they were declared dead at the scene. |
| Their funeral took place at First Presbyterian Church in Holywood, where the couple got married. | |
| Mrs Rodgers, 26, was a physiotherapist from Holywood. | Mrs Rodgers, 26, was a physiotherapist from Holywood. |
| Her 28-year-old husband was originally from Ballygowan in County Down, and worked for a printing company in Holywood. | Her 28-year-old husband was originally from Ballygowan in County Down, and worked for a printing company in Holywood. |
| Friend Billy Mawhinney told mourners: "The tragic events in South Africa have extinguished their bright flame too soon but we will never forget our daughter, son, sister, brother or friend. | Friend Billy Mawhinney told mourners: "The tragic events in South Africa have extinguished their bright flame too soon but we will never forget our daughter, son, sister, brother or friend. |
| "We set out to write a tribute but there are no words to immortalise John and Lynette. | "We set out to write a tribute but there are no words to immortalise John and Lynette. |
| "So share your stories, shed your tears, make their memories everyone's and remember what a beautiful couple they were and always will be over the rainbow." | "So share your stories, shed your tears, make their memories everyone's and remember what a beautiful couple they were and always will be over the rainbow." |
| He added that the couple's families were grateful to those who had worked to bring their bodies back to Northern Ireland. | He added that the couple's families were grateful to those who had worked to bring their bodies back to Northern Ireland. |
| Earlier, a retired schoolteacher who lives a short distance from the beach at Plettenberg Bay described how he tried to save the couple. | Earlier, a retired schoolteacher who lives a short distance from the beach at Plettenberg Bay described how he tried to save the couple. |
| John Hall told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that finding their bodies had left him and others involved in the rescue attempt traumatised. | John Hall told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that finding their bodies had left him and others involved in the rescue attempt traumatised. |
| "When we pulled the bodies out of the water, we were all convinced that all had been lost. Both were deceased by the time they were washed up. | "When we pulled the bodies out of the water, we were all convinced that all had been lost. Both were deceased by the time they were washed up. |
| "The entire town has been rocked by this tragedy." | "The entire town has been rocked by this tragedy." |
| Last week, a wreath-laying service was held in South Africa in memory of the couple. | Last week, a wreath-laying service was held in South Africa in memory of the couple. |