Four Dutch hospitalized after boating accident in Antwerp

Four Dutch people were hospitalized after a boating accident on the Schelde in Antwerp on Friday. Two speedboats crashed into each other. A total of 20 Dutch people were injured, NOS reports.

The two speedboats, with captains, were hired by a Dutch company for its annual corporate outing. The speedboats collided shortly after departure. Multiple people ended up in the water. A diving team from the local fire brigade rescued two people from the water, the others were picked up by a water taxi, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 20 Dutch people were injured, three of whom seriously. No one died.

A spokesperson for the Dutch company told NOS that the cause of the accident is not yet clear. No alcohol was involved and the captains were not rushed, the company said. 

Nog zes slachtoffers in het ziekenhuis na botsing boten op de Schelde https://t.co/NxRkXeeiQl pic.twitter.com/roW7YVmNv6

— Gazet van Antwerpen (@gva) April 7, 2019

Drie zwaargewonden en vijftien lichtgewonden bij botsing van twee speedboten op de Schelde. https://t.co/YKw32Wic8v pic.twitter.com/UuwFzjfunJ

— VTM NIEUWS (@VTMNIEUWS) April 5, 2019