Bereft fans crowd Bridges' funeral

VANDERBIJLPARK -- Emotions ran high at the burial of Afrikaans singer Bles Bridges yesterday with about 7000 of his fans pushing and shoving to catch a last glimpse of the silver coffin containing the singer's body.

"This is the saddest day for all of us here. I don't know what I'm going to do without Bles around," said a follower at the burial.

Fifty-three-year-old Bridges, who recorded over 20 albums, died in a car accident last week while returning from a concert at Jan Kempdorp, near Kimberley.

His wife, Leonie, who was injured in the accident, attended the funeral in a wheelchair.

Earlier in the day, a funeral service was held for the singer at the Driehoek Nederduits Gereformeerde church.

Most of the mourners and onlookers could not be accommodated in the packed church and watched the sermon on a big screen in a foyer.

South African country singer Lance James described Bridges as a brilliant man and said he had made a major impact on the entertainment industry.

He said he had received faxes and e-mails from people overseas expressing their condolences.

Before the coffin was rolled in on wheels, South African actors and singers, including Patricia Lewis, Steve Hofmeyer and Hennie Smit, walked sombrely into the church.

After the service, hundreds of cars drove in convoy to the cemetery and the curious lined the streets to stare at mourners and Bridges' family.

At the cemetery, Bridges' brothers and a few friends carried the coffin to the grave.

As the coffin was lowered into the grave, which was filled with red roses, a song by Bridges was played and dozens of white doves were released.

Bridges' weeping family then walked to the grave to pay their last respects followed by close friends.

The crowd slowly dispersed, with some people leaning on others for emotional support.

"This is an incredibly sad day for South Africa," said Erika van der Merwe, who described herself as Bridges' biggest fan. -- Sapa