Three dead in separate drownings, including teen boy & amateur footballer
Many people sought to cool down in the water during yesterday’s hot and sun-drenched weather. In three places in the Netherlands, the water sports ended in tragedy. Swimmers drowned in Limburg, Gelderland, and Utrecht. One of them was a 13-year-old boy. Another was amateur footballer Mats Grotenbreg (28).
The 13-year-old boy drowned in the Stijkvierteplas in Utrecht. He went missing in the late afternoon. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched. Rescue workers found the child’s body in the water at 7:20 p.m., NU.nl reported.
The police are investigating what happened. Many people were at the lake and witnessed emergency services taking the lifeless child from the water. Victim support is available for them.
A 21-year-old man drowned in the Waal near Nijmegen. According to De Gelderlander, the young man jumped into the water from a bridge and did not resurface. Emergency services launched a search, including a drone and a helicopter, and pulled his body from the water some time later.
Amateur footballer Mats Grotenbreg died in Middelaar, Limburg, after a boat hit him while he was swimming. The incident happened around 7:00 p.m. at the Mookerplas on Kromvenpad. The police arrested a suspect and are investigating what happened.
Grotenberg became known in the Netherlands in 2023, when he scored the winning goal during amateur club USV Hercules’ cup upset against Ajax, RTL Nieuws reported. The Utrecht club from the third division defeated Ajax 3-2 thanks to Grotenbreg's goal in the 93rd minute. He called it fantastic after the match.
The 28-year-old played for the club Jonge Kracht in Huissen. His coach confirmed his death to De Gelderlander. “This is unfathomable. Mats was a great guy, always cheerful and enjoying life,” coach Gerrit-Jan Barten said.
