Search for a drowning person between Demer and Schulensmeer in Lummen (Lummen)

Freddy Claes from Schulen (Herk-de-Stad) was taking his Golden Retriever for a walk. “We walked on the tourist cycle path between the Demer and the Schulensmeer. Suddenly I heard coughing, sighing and I saw branches moving up and down from the bushes that were completely in the water. I started shouting, but no one responded. Another pedestrian passed by and asked if I had heard those sounds too. I confirmed that and the man then continued walking. I called a couple nearby and asked if they had seen anything too. They had seen or heard nothing. I thought it was strange that I heard noise and then it was completely silent. That woman also shouted but there was no response. Because the terrain was very steep and difficult to access, she notified the emergency services just to be on the safe side, because I was panicking,” says Freddy Claes.

Thermal camera

The emergency services responded with all their resources, police officers made the necessary observations and an ambulance also arrived on the scene. Officer Bert Thijs of the South-West Limburg emergency zone: “We have done everything possible and searched the site twice. A thermal camera was even used and if a head had floated above water we would have seen it. But a drowning person usually sinks to the bottom and then there is no point in using a thermal camera. Seven firefighters fought their way a second time through the dense bushes that were completely flooded. There was no current there, so that was an advantage, but in some places the water was very deep,” says Bert Thijs. A few years ago, Freddy Claes also witnessed two fishermen in distress on the Schulensmeer. “They ended up in the water and unfortunately one man did not survive,” Claes concludes.

In vain search for drowning man in Schulensmeer in Lummen. — © TVL