Rhodes University graduate Dean "Dootch" Du Chenne was laid to rest at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Durban North this week after he was struck dead by lighting in Canada at the end of last month.
On a Facebook page set up in his memorial, Du Chenne's friends and family have spoken about the sudden loss.
Du Chenne, 22, was a former Maritzburg College student and the only son of Dennis and Di du Chenne of Ballito, and had two sisters, Claire and Jan.
Jonathan Pohl wrote on Facebook: "For the time I knew you at College and Rhodes, you were always active, jovial and such a pleasantly content guy. You had a positive aura and the most genuine person. Your loss is tragic."
A Facebook message from Julie Ferreira read: "Rest In peace dearest Dean, you touched all of our lives in some way and we will never forget you, we will miss you terribly but your memory will live on in our hearts forever."
According to the Calgary Herald, Du Chenne had taken up a chance to work at the Winter Olympics and experience life as a farmhand on a southern Alberta ranch and was working with two friends putting up fencing at Sears Ranches Beaver Camp when the incident occurred.
The three workers had to stop working when a storm brewed and were heading back to their truck when Du Chenne was struck by lightning.
A co-worker performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation on Du Chenne. He was taken to High River Hospital and later transferred to Calgary's Foothills Hospital where he died the following morning.
He had been in Canada since December last year.
A large group gathered in Durban North on Wednesday to say their last goodbyes.
A memorial service will be held at Rhodes University Chapel on Saturday.