Tragic end to a family vacation!
A German died during a canoe tour in the Netherlands. This was initially reported by local media. The police have since confirmed the woman’s death. The father and a child are missing – according to the Coast Guard, however, they are believed to have drowned.
Rescuers first searched with boats and helicopters near the village of Biddinghuizen (almost 6,500 inhabitants), and an echo sounder was also used. The device is suitable for depth measurement using sound waves. According to the police, the search is now focused on recovering the two bodies.
A seven-year-old daughter was saved. The child crouched on a buoy where emergency services discovered the little one. The mother floated in the water and resuscitation measures failed.
The police were alerted around 3 p.m. on Thursday and immediately started the search. The family was canoeing on the Veluwemeer, about 75 kilometers north-east of Amsterdam.
Family was probably not wearing life jackets
The canoe capsized for unknown reasons, a radio station reported. The canoe was finally found empty near the small island of De Snip. The family is said not to have worn life jackets.
The police did not provide any information about the identity of the victims or the origin of the family of four.
The mayor of the municipality of Dronten, to which Biddinghuizen belongs, said in a press statement: “I am very saddened by the news of the tragedy that happened this afternoon with the accident on the Veluwemeer. What was supposed to be a beautiful vacation day for a German family on the water ended in great sadness. One person died, one child was taken to the hospital and two others are still being sought,” said Jean Paul Gebben.