Zandhoven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – During an evacuation, 13-year-olds Josefien Beyens and Lucía Dehantschutter were designated as heroes of Zandhoven. The two girls conducted a life-saving rescue operation in Zoersel last week. His mobility scooter left him in a drainage culvert.
Josefien Beyens and Lucía Dehantschutter received hero status when the 13-year-old Zandhoven students saved a 66-year-old man who had fallen into a Zoersel canal. The individual aboard a mobility scooter accidentally fell into the water. The girls took immediate action to support the man by keeping his head above water until they received help from emergency services. The boys quickly intervened to prevent the accident victim from dying.
“There was a car just standing still on the street. When we cycled past, a woman got out. She said that a man had driven into the canal,”
The girls say.
“We went to look, and we saw him lying with his mobility scooter and his head underwater.”
The girls immediately sprang into action.
“I jumped over the stream and tried to get his head above water by pulling on his arm and I succeeded. Luckily, other people came to help.”
Bystanders called the emergency services, but they also received help from the girls.
“I then went and told them which street we were in.”
“If those girls hadn’t reacted, the man wouldn’t be alive now,”
Says Zandhoven mayor Luc Van Hove (CD&V).
“They kept his head above water. Then others were able to get him out of the canal and resuscitate him.”
That’s why the municipality wanted to honour them.
“They received a certificate stating that they are heroes, and a gold medal with the coat of arms of Zandhoven. Their name is also engraved in it. Finally, they also received a fleece blanket.”
The accident also continues to reverberate with the girls.
“I was shocked that the people in the cars did nothing. It was a really old man and he was not moving anymore. That’s why I went there immediately.”
“The story still plays out in my head every day. We are relieved that the man is still alive and yes, that may be partly because of us.”
In the meantime, the mayor hopes that more people will take action when necessary.
“We recently gave AED courses to our staff and residents. It is good that people know first aid and can resuscitate. But you still have to do it when necessary.
“That these girls, only 13, have already done that, that’s fantastic. There are many adults who wouldn’t have done it. That’s really admirable.”
What is the history behind the rescue?
Belgium faces substantial dangers from drowning as the Belgian Lifeguard Federation reports that 30 to 40 people die yearly through drowning incidents in this nation. The emergency involving Josefien and Lucía shows how critical rapid intervention and first-responder training remain in critical situations.
Recent community safety efforts in Zandhoven underlie the girls’ response as the locality started organising AED and first aid training sessions for local residents.
According to Mayor Luc Van Hove, the necessity of taking preventive actions cannot be overstated:,
“It is good people learn first aid because they can help save lives through resuscitation.’’
Even though you need to perform first aid only when necessary scenarios occur.
