Video: 24-year-old man dies after drowning in Waal near Tiel
A 24-year-old man died after drowning in the Waal near Tiel on Friday evening, de Gelderlander reported. This marks the second fatal drowning reported in Gelderland within two days during hot weather that drew many people to the water.
Emergency services were called to the Ophemertsedijk around 7:40 p.m. after receiving reports of a person in the water. Two people had entered the river, but one failed to come back to the surface. Rescue crews recovered the victim from the water at about 9 p.m., but it was too late. The victim was identified as a 24-year-old man.
The death follows another fatal drowning in Gelderland on Thursday, when a 21-year-old man died in the Waal near Nijmegen after reportedly jumping from a bridge into the river and failing to resurface. Emergency responders searched for him using a drone and helicopter before recovering his body.
The Nijmegen case was one of three fatal drowning incidents reported across the Netherlands on Thursday during the heatwave. A 13-year-old boy drowned in the Stijkvierteplas in Utrecht after disappearing while swimming. Rescue workers found his body at about 7:20 p.m. Police are investigating the incident, and victim support has been made available for witnesses.
Also on Thursday, 28-year-old amateur footballer Mats Grotenbreg died at the Mookerplas in Middelaar, Limburg, after being struck by a boat while swimming. Police arrested a suspect and are investigating the incident.
