Sneek marathon canceled after organizers hired fake first-aid provider
The Sneek Marathon scheduled for Saturday has been canceled and postponed to fall after the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân revoked the event permit when it discovered that the medical and first-aid plan had been prepared by a convicted fake ambulance worker from Groningen, Omrop Fryslân reports.
About 3,000 participants had registered for the event, which included a half marathon and a 4-mile race for runners and a marathon distance reserved for walkers. Organizers said Monday night that the June 20 event could not proceed because replacement medical arrangements could not be secured in time. “With pain in our hearts, we have to let you know that Marathon Sneek is being moved to the fall,” the organizers said. “Despite all efforts, basic medical care on June 20 cannot be sufficiently guaranteed. The safety of participants, volunteers, spectators, and everyone involved always comes first.”
The municipality withdrew the permit after learning that the first-aid plan had been drafted by a 22-year-old man from Groningen who was convicted earlier this year for repeatedly posing as an ambulance employee at events. Organizers had hired a company from Groningen to provide medical support and said they were unaware that the business belonged to the convicted man. “Based on the information we had, everything appeared to be in order,” the organizers said. “We were naturally enormously shocked.”
The man was sentenced to 15 months in prison, given a three-year professional ban, and ordered to undergo treatment for mental health problems after being linked to dozens of incidents in which he impersonated an ambulance worker, firefighter, or police officer. He appealed the ruling and has not yet begun serving his sentence, allowing him to continue offering first-aid services.
Authorities considered the company’s involvement a risk to public safety and public health. After the permit was revoked, organizers tried to arrange alternative medical coverage. Finding first-aid personnel was not the main problem, but they were unable to secure enough ambulances.
The man had previously been involved in an incident during Sneekweek in 2025, when he attempted to assist a woman suffering an epileptic seizure and tried to transport her in a fake ambulance, a yellow Mercedes Sprinter resembling an emergency vehicle. First-aid workers recognized that something was wrong and sent him away. Police previously found him driving a vehicle equipped with flashing lights, sirens, and medical equipment stolen from ambulance services.
Organizers said expected high temperatures this weekend also contributed to the decision to postpone the race. Heat-related incidents occurred at several running events last month, and two participants in the Utrecht and Leiden half marathons died.
No new date has been announced. “We are not giving up on Marathon Sneek,” the organizers said. “It has to go ahead, just not on June 20. We will announce the new date this week.”
