Fire brigade rescues swimmer from Scheldt in Temse

Sarhan Basem
Credit: Pieter Van Hecke

Rupelmonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The fire brigade in Rupelmonde,  in the municipality of Kruibeke, rescued a person swimming across the Scheldt near Kruibeke. The person attempted to find relief from the heat yet became at risk because of the powerful river current. The fire brigade initially retrieved the male swimmer before hospital staff treated him for hypothermia.

The Scheldt River near Kruibeke in Rupelmonde pulled in a stranded swimmer following drowning difficulties caused by the fast-moving river waters. The fire brigade conducted a difficult rescue before extracting the man from the water. He was hospitalised with hypothermia. Furthermore, the event endangered the swimmer’s safety and caused disruptions to ships travelling through the river.

It was not only a dangerous situation for the man himself, but also for shipping traffic on the Scheldt,

stated the fire brigade.

Emergency services received notification from a bystander after they noticed the swimmer holding onto a wood-fibre board. The fire brigade made an initial attempt to save the man in Steendorp before the strong current pushed him beyond reach. Divers operating from Rupelmonde eventually intercepted the swimmer, who received help to reach the shore, followed by transportation to a fire brigade boat. Medical personnel transported the exhausted hypothermic swimmer to a hospital for professional care.

Why is the Scheldt river considered dangerous for swimmers?

The Scheldt River extends across 350 kilometres within Belgium to serve as its main water corridor, known for strong currents and substantial shipping activities. Shipping traffic through this critical route has exceeded 60,000 vessels in yearly operations. Swimmers experience dangerous conditions because the river’s currents move at velocities between 4 meters per second.

Studies show that emergency services typically respond to swimmers who encounter problems in the Scheldt during summer months when residents try to escape hot weather. The regional emergency services handled more than twelve water incidents in 2022 in their service area.

The deep waters of the river reach beyond 10 meters deep in specific areas, while unexpected underwater currents create additional danger zones. The risk increases due to the large vessels in the area since these ships cannot manoeuvre or stop easily. 

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Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
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