PRAYERS were said in Lurgashall parish church on Sunday for the Sword family, who lost two family members last Friday (Aug 10) in a head-on collision in South Africa as they were returning from a safari holiday.

Louise Sword, 53, and her daughter Tabitha, 13, sadly both died as a result of the accident. Mrs Sword’s husband Alistair, 53, and her son Benjamin, 11, are in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

The family’s SUV was in collision with a Mercedes near Zinkwazi in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

The driver of the Mercedes, Mtunzini resident Elomi Lourens, 82, was also killed in the accident, according to the North Coast Courier.

Mrs Sword was rushed to hospital but died later while Tabitha died at the scene.

Her husband and son were cut free from the SUV and airlifted to Lenmed Ethekweni hospital.

Mrs Sword’s brother Tim Taylor, 55, is married to the Queen’s cousin Lady Helen Taylor.

The Rev Peter Hayes, priest in charge of St Laurence’s Church, Lurgashall, said: “It was an absolute tragedy and it has affected the community deeply. I have visited several parishioners who have found it hard to reconcile how such a thing could have happened.

“The community is deeply saddened by the event, which has affected many people who are close friends. The church community sends the family its condolences and offers its prayers. Prayers were said at Sunday’s service and will continue to be said.”