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🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Nursing home resident (96) dies after falling into canal in Brecht

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A 96-year-old woman from a nursing home died after falling into a canal in Brecht, Belgium.
  • The woman was in a wheelchair attached to a specially equipped bicycle, which went into the water for an unknown reason.
  • The staff member operating the bicycle was rescued but the elderly resident could not be saved.

A tragic accident in Brecht, Belgium, has resulted in the death of a 96-year-old woman who resided in a nursing home. The incident occurred on the towpath alongside the Dessel-Schoten canal, according to the local Voorkempen police zone.

It is a tragic accident.

— Local police zone VoorkempenConfirming the nature of the incident in Brecht.

The elderly woman was a passenger in a wheelchair that had been fitted onto a specially equipped bicycle. For reasons yet to be determined, the bicycle veered off the path and entered the canal. The staff member from the nursing home who was operating the bicycle also fell into the water.

The woman was in a wheelchair that was installed on a specially equipped bicycle.

— Article textDescribing the setup involved in the accident.

Emergency services responded to the scene. The staff member was successfully rescued from the canal and was taken to the hospital, reportedly in shock. However, despite all efforts, medical assistance arrived too late for the 96-year-old resident, and she was pronounced deceased.

The bicycle ended up in the water for a reason still unknown.

— Article textDetailing how the accident occurred.

Authorities have confirmed that a witness has provided a statement to the police, indicating that there was no foul play or involvement of any third party. The incident is being treated as a deeply unfortunate accident.

The staff member from the nursing home where the victim resided was at the handlebars of the bicycle.

— Article textIdentifying the person operating the bicycle.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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