Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Earlier this week at De Nekker in Mechelen, 3 girls spotted a “crocodile,” which was a plastic training object. Spokeswoman Ellen Wauters and firefighters confirmed no danger.
As GVA News reported, earlier this week, 3 girls at the provincial sports and recreation area De Nekker in Mechelen reported seeing what they thought was a crocodile while they were on their surfboards. Their story quickly drew attention from local people and authorities.
Many visitors were worried about their safety, and officials decided to investigate. After careful searching, no crocodile was found. The sighting turned out to be a false alarm, and the girls’ encounter did not pose any real danger.
What Is the Object Seen as a Crocodile at De Nekker Mechelen?
Ellen Waters, the spokeswoman for the province of Antwerp, said the report was treated very seriously.
“We took the report seriously and immediately contacted the fire department,”
she said.
Firefighters arrived on Friday, Aug 22, 2025, to inspect the area. They checked the waters thoroughly to make sure all visitors were safe. The search confirmed that there was no crocodile in the recreation area. The authorities said De Nekker remains safe for everyone who comes to enjoy water and outdoor activities.
Wauters from the fire department explained that the pond is part of their daily diving training routine, and many other skilled divers also practice there.
“Due to the drought, the water level has dropped, making some objects that are normally underwater visible,”
he said. Wauters clarified that the object was in a part of the pond where swimming is usually prohibited, but some surfboard users ventured closer out of curiosity.
After the video of a fake crocodile spread online, the Nekker management and the fire department quickly searched for the people who filmed it. They located 3 teenagers who admitted to sharing the footage. The girls confirmed that they had seen a stationary plastic object in the water.
“It might make for some spectacular footage and a compelling story, but thanks to the alert response from De Nekker and the fire department, it quickly became clear that there were no unwanted visitors in the pond,”
says Wauters.
“Finally, we want to make it clear that we appreciate alert, concerned, and engaged swimmers in De Nekker. This applies in all circumstances, including reports of plastic crocodiles”
A similar incident occurred in Flanders in 2019, when a submerged log in a recreational pond in the city of Ghent was mistaken for a crocodile. Swimmers and visitors panicked, and the story quickly spread in local media.
In many cases, objects like large debris, floating toys, or buoys have been misidentified as dangerous animals. Experts say these situations usually happen when water levels are unusually low, revealing objects that are normally hidden.
