American College Student Found Dead In South Africa, She Was 20

kanuman, Deposit Photos

A North Carolina college student who went missing while hiking in South Africa has been found dead, authorities and her heartbroken family announced Monday.

Brook Cheuvront, 20, was reported missing on September 21 from Table Mountain in Cape Town, where she had been studying abroad. Friends grew concerned when she stopped responding to messages and couldn’t be tracked through a location app, according to a representative from SANPark, the organization responsible for managing the mountain, as reported by CBS News.

Steve Cheuvront, Facebook

Search efforts began immediately, with rangers and trail runners combing the area until nightfall Saturday, when conditions made it impossible to continue, SANPark spokesperson JP Louw said. On Sunday, an aircraft joined the search, and Cheuvront’s body was tragically discovered later that day.

“We are devastated. God help me and us,” wrote Steve Cheuvront. He confirmed the recovery of his daughter, Brook, after she was found dead on Table Mountain in Cape Town. Steve had planned to fly in from North Carolina to assist in the search for his 20-year-old daughter.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of death, and an investigation is underway. Brook, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina, was in South Africa for an internship at the University of Cape Town. She was also a Morehead-Cain Scholar.

She was a native of Newland, North Carolina. Brook was the 2022 valedictorian at Avery County High School and she was a cross-country track athlete.

In response to concerns about safety at Table Mountain, SANParks released a statement cautioning against speculation. They emphasized that claims about increasing crime in the area were “speculative” and could cause unnecessary alarm, undermining the success of ongoing safety efforts. South African Government officials recommend hiking in groups of 4 and caution against hiking alone.

Before she was found deceased, a missing poster was posted on social media.

 

Rest in Peace.