Man Critical After Drowning at De Nekker Mechelen
A man in his 30s remains in critical condition after being pulled unconscious from the swimming pond at De Nekker recreation area in Mechelen, Belgium, on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the popular provincial domain, which was operating at full capacity with all 4,000 tickets sold out for the day.
According to VRT NWS, on-site lifeguards immediately began CPR upon pulling the man from the water. Emergency services, including ambulance and police, arrived shortly after and assisted in the rescue efforts.
Rescue and Response
“They immediately started CPR,” said Dirk Van de Sande, spokesperson for Politiezone Rivierenland (Rivierenland Police Zone). “Later they also received assistance from the emergency services that were called. The man was taken to the hospital under police escort and in critical condition.”
The victim was transported to hospital under police escort, where he remained in critical condition as of Monday morning. Van de Sande added that further investigation will be needed to determine exactly how the man got into distress.
Victim support services (Slachtofferhulp) have been deployed on-site to provide assistance to staff, lifeguards, witnesses, and other visitors affected by the incident. The provincial government and De Nekker management have issued a joint statement expressing sympathy for the victim, his family, and loved ones, while thanking all personnel and emergency services for their rapid response.
Background on De Nekker
De Nekker is a provincial sports and recreation domain located southeast of Mechelen’s city center, near the Nekkerspoel district. According to Wikipedia, the domain features sports halls, outdoor facilities, a large pond with a sandy beach for swimming and water sports, and an indoor swimming pool. The name derives from “nikker” — a water devil in Flemish folklore said to have lived in the pond.
The domain, operated by the Province of Antwerp, has a maximum capacity of 4,000 visitors, a limit frequently reached on hot summer days. A ticketing system manages capacity, and on the day of the incident, all tickets were sold out.
A History of Water Safety Concerns
This incident is the latest in a series of drowning and near-drowning events at De Nekker over the past 15 years. Previous incidents include:
- April 2011: A 4-year-old boy drowned while on an outing with a youth institution.
- August 2020: A 6-year-old boy drowned in a small pond at De Nekker.
- October 2022: A 4-year-old boy was pulled from the water in critical condition; he survived.
- June 2025: A 9-year-old boy, Faisal from Syria who had been in Belgium for only one month, was pulled from the water and resuscitated for over 30 minutes but later died. This incident led to increased safety measures and precautions by youth movements.
Implications and Outlook
The recurrence of serious water incidents at De Nekker raises questions about supervision capacity during peak attendance periods. The most recent prior incident in June 2025, which resulted in the death of a 9-year-old boy, prompted enhanced safety protocols. Whether this latest incident will lead to further scrutiny of water safety measures at the provincial recreation domain remains to be seen.
Adding to the complexity, the transfer of De Nekkerpool and the outdoor sports zone from the Province of Antwerp to the City of Mechelen is scheduled for 2027, which may have implications for future safety governance at the site.
As investigations continue, authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the man’s distress — whether it resulted from a medical event, cramp, or other factors. Updates on the victim’s condition are expected as they become available.
This article was compiled from reports by VRT NWS and historical records.