Afrikaans gospel singer Irene van Wyk has died in an accident.

Although details of her death remain sketchy, it was confirmed by a member of her management company.

The singer's ex husband and manager, Louis van Wyk, identified the body.

"It is true. Irene died in an accident," Music Profile employee Monica Grobelaar told Nuus24.

"We don't know very much," she added.

"More information will be provided at a later stage."

Her death comes almost exactly a year after she went missing for 48 hours and was sent to a rehabiliation clinic for alcoholics.

At the time her ex husband had said that the singer had had a relapse after four years of sobriety.

In April 2007 she attempted suicide.

"I just didn't have the strength to cope with everything around me. The pressure had become too much," she told Die Burger shortly after contemplating taking her life.

"I'm a strong girl. I've survived big setbacks. But at that stage I felt I couldn't cope any more. My own son refused to speak to me. The newspapers were 'quoting' things I'd never said. It was unbearable," she added.

Irene van Wyk made her recording debut in 1986 and was awarded a Vonk award in 2008 for best gospel album of the year.