A car ended up in the Bocholt-Herentals canal at the Luikersteenweg in Lommel on Tuesday morning. A father and his two sons aged 5 and 7 were in the car. They did not survive. Everything points to an act of desperation.
Mireille Maes/Geert Van Baelen/Olivier Simons/Marij Wijers
Around midnight, the North Limburg fire brigade received a call that a car was in the canal. Emergency services rushed to the scene. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the three occupants. But for the 37-year-old father and his two sons aged 5 and 7 from Lommel, all help came too late. It would be a Dutch family living in Lommel-Kolonie. The boys grew up there and are in second kindergarten and first grade
On Tuesday morning, the investigation into the drama was still in full swing. — © Dick Demey
The Lommel police made the findings and are conducting further investigations. Nothing is yet known about the circumstances of the accident, but according to the first information it would be an act of desperation. The Limburg public prosecutor’s office sent a medical officer, the lab and the lab support team of the federal judicial police to the scene. The relatives of the victims were received on Monday night at the scene of the drama and assisted by victim treatment. They could say goodbye to their loved ones.
© Geert Van Baelen
On Tuesday morning, the investigation into the family drama was still in full swing. The police services and experts were still investigating along the Bocholt-Herentals canal. The families of the victims also came to the scene of the terrible drama. On the banks of the canal they sought support from each other. The relatives asked for peace and serenity.
© Dick Demey
School
At the school of the deceased children, there was still consultation this morning about the care of the classmates. This will be communicated later in the day. The children attended primary school ‘t Stekske in Lommel-Kolonie. Eleven years ago, the school lost fifteen children and two supervisors in the bus accident in Sierre, Switzerland. Seven students were seriously injured and still carry the accident with them. On March 13, there was another memorial at the memorial near the school.
Lommels mayor Bob Nijs (CD&V) emphasizes that the impact on primary school is great. “Especially given what this school has already endured during the bus accident. This reopens wounds. We take care of the school children as well as possible with the cooperation of the CLB and psychological victim support. In this way we support them to process this news.” Together with the mother and the other surviving relatives, it is considered whether a farewell moment will be organized within the school.
The impact on the emergency services, who tried to resuscitate the victims, is also great. They received assistance on Monday night from the Fire Stress Team (FiST), which supports firefighters and helps them deal with shocking interventions. “The drama has left a deep impression. You don’t become a firefighter for this,” says mayor Nijs. The community around Lommel-Barrier and Lommel-Kolonie is also deeply impressed by the drama, according to the mayor.
Anyone with questions about suicide can contact the Suicide Line on the free number 1813 and on the website www.zelfmoord1813.be.
