Ostend (The Brussels Morning):Two Afghan brothers swimming near Mariakerke beach in Ostend faced danger but were rescued by bystanders. One required CPR and both were hospitalized.
Two brothers who are from Afghanistan and live in Ostend got into trouble while swimming near Mariakerke beach in Ostend. People at the beach saw them struggling and quickly helped them out of the water. The mayor Bart Tommelein praised the bystanders for their fast and brave actions which prevented a possible disaster. The people called for help right away and when the emergency services arrived they checked on the brothers. Both boys needed medical help after their scary experience in the water. They were taken to the hospital for more checks and treatment. It is important for everyone to be watchful and act fast to keep beach visitors safe. The authorities look into improving safety measures to avoid such situations in the future.
How did two Afghan brothers end up in danger at Ostend beach?
The boys got hurt and one needed CPR on the beach as mentioned by Timmy Van Assche from the Oostende police. Both were taken to the hospital and were very seriously injured. The younger boy’s condition improved overnight. Mayor Tommelein confirmed that the rescuers saved the boys just before their shift ended at 6:30 p.m. However, after that the boys went back into the sea without the rescuers knowing.
A family from the Netherlands who were on vacation in Ostend saw what happened. Silke who is 17 years old said, “We saw them go into the water even after the rescuers told them to come out.” They were playing with a float in the water and started drifting towards Middelkerke. Silke noticed that the boys had to let go of the float. “Then I went into the water with another man, and we managed to rescue one of the boys.” Silke’s father, Will who is 61, jumped in to save the other boy. “He was quite far out in the sea, but we still got him out. He was in a bad condition. Meanwhile my wife called for help.” The police will investigate how the boys got into trouble in the water. Van Assche said, “We don’t know yet how this happened. We will talk to some witnesses to understand more about the incident.”
What factors are contributing to rising drowning incidents in Ostend?
Rescue teams in Ostend have noticed more drownings recently some leading to tragic outcomes. Chief rescuer Jonathan Devos mentioned on Radio 1 that often these incidents involve individuals who can’t swim well. He highlighted a decline in swimming abilities among young people regardless of their background. Particularly young people from immigrant backgrounds may lack swimming and sea knowledge leading them to overestimate their abilities.
Devos emphasized a crucial point “The sea is not like a pool. It’s hard to judge its depth and it can suddenly get much deeper. If you’re unfamiliar with the sea, always keep contact with the bottom. And if you’re not a strong swimmer, stay in shallow waters, not deeper than your hips.”
