Man and teen drown in separate swimming incidents in Gelderland

A 29-year-old man from Fijnaart drowned Saturday afternoon while swimming in a gravel pit on the Waal near Waalbandijk in Ochten, Gelderland. According to police, he ran into trouble in the water. Despite rescue efforts, help arrived too late, NOS reported.

That same day, a 16-year-old boy from Vaassen drowned in the recreational lake Kievitsveld in Emst, Gelderland. The boy was swimming with other minors when he got into trouble and failed to resurface. Many visitors, including children, were at the Emst lake during the drowning.

After an hour-long search involving fire department divers, police, ambulance crews, and a trauma helicopter, the boy’s body was recovered. Authorities secured the area during the search and notified the family. Police are treating the incident as a tragic accident.

In Zoetermeer, bystanders pulled a “reasonably young child” from the water at the Noord Aa recreation area. The child was resuscitated on the beach and airlifted by trauma helicopter to a hospital. The child’s current condition is unknown.