Melbourne woman Claire Penno and daughter killed in Zimbabwe car crash: reports

Updated December 24, 2017 14:58:02

An Australian woman and her young daughter have been killed in a car crash near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe during a family holiday, according to local media reports.

Claire Penno, 32, and her daughter Anaishe died when the car they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) reported.

It said Ms Penno's husband Emmanuel Mpofu, who was driving, and their 14-year-old son, survived.

The family is based in Melbourne, and was visiting Victoria Falls for a holiday.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help return Ms Penno and her daughter's bodies to Australia.

"Claire was just an innately good and wonderful person, passionate about welfare of all people, and compassionate beyond measure," the post said.

"Anaishe was just starting her life, full of character, personality and such intelligence. She had so much potential to bring to the world.

"She was her parents and grandparents' world and she was truly loved."

The ABC has contacted Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.

Topics: accidents, community-and-society, disasters-and-accidents, melbourne-3000, vic, zimbabwe

First posted December 24, 2017 14:54:37

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