Found dead at a hotel in Cape Town’s Newlands area was journalist and former Somerset cricketer Peter Roebuck.
The confirmation of a British citizen’s suicide came from Captain Frederik van Wyk, a spokesperson for the South African Police in the Western Cape Province. Reports indicate that Roebuck leapt from the sixth-floor room of the Southern Sun Hotel.
“This incident occurred at 9.15pm on Saturday,” he stated. “A 55-year-old British citizen was discovered deceased in a hotel located in Newlands, Cape Town. He was serving as a cricket commentator for an Australian publication and took his own life. An inquest dossier has been initiated for further investigation. I cannot provide additional details at this time.”
At the age of 55, Roebuck had previously played alongside cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Viv Richards at Somerset. Following his retirement from playing in 1991, he gained recognition as a keen analyst of the game and contributed writings to the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age. Additionally, he worked as a broadcaster for ABC radio, where he had been covering Australia’s tour of South Africa.
Reports from a website noted that Roebuck was “in a disturbed state last night” after police interaction, during which personal belongings were removed from his hotel room. Ian Fuge, the managing editor of sport at the Herald, lamented his colleague’s passing, calling it “a devastating blow to all at the Sydney Morning Herald, both professionally and personally” and praised Roebuck as “a wonderful writer who embodied the essence of summer for cricket enthusiasts in Australia.”
Tribute also came from Craig Norenbergs, the ABC Grandstand manager, who remarked, “He had a unique ability to describe cricket matches in such a way that even those who weren’t fans of the game appreciated his approach to it.”
Roebuck was recognized as a reliable batsman, achieving over 1,000 runs in nine out of 12 seasons and being honored as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.
Peter Roebuck commits suicide in South Africa
Found dead at a hotel in Cape Town’s Newlands area was journalist and former Somerset cricketer Peter Roebuck.
“This incident occurred at 9.15pm on Saturday,” he stated. “A 55-year-old British citizen was discovered deceased in a hotel located in Newlands, Cape Town. He was serving as a cricket commentator for an Australian publication and took his own life. An inquest dossier has been initiated for further investigation. I cannot provide additional details at this time.”
At the age of 55, Roebuck had previously played alongside cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Viv Richards at Somerset. Following his retirement from playing in 1991, he gained recognition as a keen analyst of the game and contributed writings to the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age. Additionally, he worked as a broadcaster for ABC radio, where he had been covering Australia’s tour of South Africa.
Reports from a website noted that Roebuck was “in a disturbed state last night” after police interaction, during which personal belongings were removed from his hotel room. Ian Fuge, the managing editor of sport at the Herald, lamented his colleague’s passing, calling it “a devastating blow to all at the Sydney Morning Herald, both professionally and personally” and praised Roebuck as “a wonderful writer who embodied the essence of summer for cricket enthusiasts in Australia.”
Tribute also came from Craig Norenbergs, the ABC Grandstand manager, who remarked, “He had a unique ability to describe cricket matches in such a way that even those who weren’t fans of the game appreciated his approach to it.”
Roebuck was recognized as a reliable batsman, achieving over 1,000 runs in nine out of 12 seasons and being honored as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.
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