Seven Years After Gru's Death: 'I Miss Him So Much'
Seven years after rapper Dalibor Andonov Gru died in a kitesurfing accident on the Danube, his mother has spoken for the first time about her loss and how much she still misses him.
Today marks exactly seven years since the death of Dalibor Andonov Gru, the popular rapper who died on September 9, 2019 while kitesurfing on the Danube. To mark the anniversary, his mother has spoken publicly for the first time about what life without her son has been like, admitting that part of the pain stays just as heavy no matter how much time passes.
Gru was known for his music and his distinctive artistic style, and just as much for his love of sports, adrenaline and an active lifestyle. It was kitesurfing, one of his favorite pursuits, that led to the tragedy that shook the entire music scene and his fans across the region that day.
That day, Gru had gone to the Danube to spend time kitesurfing, a sport he practiced regularly and genuinely enjoyed. According to witnesses, the weather suddenly turned while he was still in the water packing up his equipment, lines and kite ropes. A strong gust caught the sail before he managed to unhook himself, and he was unable to regain control of the equipment.
An eyewitness who was at the scene that day later described the final moments to the media:
He lost control because of the lines and the kite went into a loop… It slammed him into the water and pulled him back out about five times within some twenty seconds.
According to the autopsy findings, Gru died from drowning, preceded by a spinal fracture in two places that left him paralyzed and unable to free himself from the equipment. Police arrived at the scene to carry out an investigation, and an ambulance was also called, but the doctor could only confirm his death. His body was pulled ashore by boat several hours later. He was buried on September 12, 2019 at Orlovaca Cemetery, with a large crowd gathering to pay their final respects.
For the seventh anniversary, Gru’s mother talked about the emptiness she carries every day. She spoke in particular about how much she misses her son when she remembers how much he loved basketball and how eagerly he helped others. She said:
Everything is a beautiful memory, except this one. This is the harsh truth, everything else about him is beautiful. What can I say, in a word, every mother would have wished for such a child, such a man… I miss him so much. I can’t believe that I will never see him again, that’s it…
She also recalled one encounter that has stayed with her in particular. A woman she didn’t know approached her on the street and told her that her own son, who lives in America, believes the world would be a better place if it had more people like Gru. Unexpected moments like that, she says, restore her faith in people and help her get through.
Friends and colleagues still reach out to the family today with messages of support and memories of his songs, his energy and the impact he had on young listeners. Seven years after the tragedy, Gru remains one of the most remembered names on the Serbian rap scene. This year again, fans marked the anniversary by sharing his songs and photos on social media, while the family observed the seventh anniversary among their closest relatives.
