A 16-year-old boy has drowned in the sea in the West Flemish coastal city of Ostend. The boy was swimming with 2 friends in an area that is supervised by lifeguards. He and his friends were caught off guard by some high waves. Lifeguards were able to rescue 2 of the boys.
The 3 teenagers started having difficulty near to the breakwater. Lifeguards were able to rescue two brothers aged 16 and 17. The 3rd boy was carried away by a wave and was missing for more than an hour before he was found.
The acting mayor of Ostend Kurt Claeys (liberal) told VRT News that "An intensive search to find him got under way at around 11am. The police helicopter and the Maritime Police were deployed. Finally, after just over an hour the boy was found. He was brought to the beach. Attempts to revive him were in vein, he is dead”.
2 boys taken to hospital
"His 2 friends, who are both around 16 years old are now in hospital where they are being treated for hyperthermia”.
"The lifeguards too are being given assistance to help them deal with what has happened because for them this is an enormous blow. They did their job properly. They quickly noticed that the boys were there, but sometimes there is simply nothing that you can do. The lifeguards put their heart and soul into their work”.