Ghent (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): A 19-year-old French speaker nearly drowned at Blaarmeersen beach in Ghent after swimming into a prohibited area with strong currents. Bystanders rescued him and alerted emergency services who revived him and put him in an artificial coma at the hospital.
On 14th August at 7 PM the lifeguards cleared the water and announced the rules in three languages. Yesterday on 13th August about 30 minutes after the lifeguards finished and put up the red flag three boys swam into a dangerous area that’s off-limits due to risky sandbanks and strong currents. One of the boys a 19-year-old French speaker got into trouble and bystanders swam over to help him. They pulled him out and alerted the emergency services who had to drive to the prohibited area. The emergency responders revived the boy and took him to the hospital where he is currently in an artificial coma.
How can we improve water safety and swimming education to prevent tragedies like the Blaarmeersen incident?
Farah Laporte was having a drink with a friend near the swimming area in Blaarmeersen when they heard two boys shouting loudly. They quickly ran to hel, along with some other people nearby. The boys didn’t speak much Dutch so it was hard to understand what was happening. When they found out their friend was missing in the water Farah’s friend and another man jumped in to look for him. Farah called 112 for help but she was so panicked that she couldn’t say where they were. While waiting for help she walked to the side of Blaarmeersen to give a clear location.
When Farah got back to the pontoon her boyfriend had already pulled the boy out of the water. He had been underwater for about five minutes. A bystander started CPR and Farah called for help again. The emergency services arrived and she guided them to the boy. They worked on him for 20 more minutes until he started breathing again. It had been over 40 minutes since the boys called for help.It has been said that one boy was in shock so Farah helped him calm down. She was thankful for the quick response from the emergency services and hopes the boy will be okay. Farah believes that they should learn from this and that swimming in open water needs to be safer with more swimming lessons and pools available in cities.
Parents do not always have the resources or access to provide swimming lessons to their children
Farah Laporte
It has been said that young people from Brussels often go to the Blaarmeersen because they need a place to cool off. While they are welcome many of them don’t know how to swim safely in open water. They said that it’s really important for them to have good swimming skills. Farah believes that schools should help by offering affordable swimming lessons as part of physical education. Parents also have a role to play but not everyone has the money or access to lessons. She feels relieved that a witness was able to save the boy by performing CPR. Farah thinks it’s crucial to teach first aid and raise awareness about swimming safely in open water to prevent accidents.
