A Namibian nurse died in Canada on New Year’s Day after he and another man were hit by a speeding vehicle in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville shortly after 01h00.
According to Canadian media reports, Wesley Katimba (30) and Michael Chintakis (31) were coming from church and were heading to a friend’s party when the accident took place.
Katimba celebrated his birthday on 31 December.
His death has been confirmed by his uncle, Bonny Paulino, who describes him as a religious person who had committed his life to God.
“Wesley was someone who loved God, praying, listening to music, and mostly spending time with his people, be it friends or family.
“He grew up at Gemengde in Katutura, at his grandmother’s house,” Paulino says.
He says Katimba spoke to his Namibian relatives and in-laws on his birthday and was in a jovial mood.
“The conversations he had with everyone were filled with laughter and love. He had sent pictures of the birthday cake he baked himself, and even joked about opening a bakery when they returned home,” Paulino says.
He says Katimba graduated from the Namibia Nursing Training Centre in 2015 and started working at the Katutura Clinic thereafter.
He moved to Canada in August 2022 to be with his wife, who works for an international aviation body in Canada.
Paulino says plans to repatriate Katimba’s remains to Namibia for burial are underway.
He is survived by his wife and two children, aged one and four.
Antoine Dubuc (23) was arrested and charged with dangerous driving causing death, fleeing the scene of a deadly collision and impaired driving causing death.
Dubuc allegedly hit the two pedestrians at high speed before fleeing the scene, first in his vehicle and then on foot.
He appeared in court and the case was postponed to Monday.
Namibia’s ambassador to the United States (US), Margaret Mensah-Williams, who is also accredited to Canada, confirmed on Facebook that Katimba’s death is the third of Namibians dying in the diaspora in December.
She said Oscar Kandjavera also died in the US in December.
“He died in Minneapolis on 29 December. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Our heartfelt condolences to the entire family and friends. We’ll keep them all in our prayers,” she posted.
Another Namibian who is said to have died overseas, which Mensah-Williams has confirmed, is Nelson Dumeni.
Dumeni succumbed to heart failure in Washington DC on 21 December.
Plans to repatriate his remains for burial in Namibia are also underway.
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