Body of 36-Year-Old Found in Ditch Near Izegem Swimming Pool

The lifeless body of a 36-year-old man was discovered on Monday afternoon in a ditch next to the swimming pool at Sportdomein De Krekel in Izegem, West Flanders. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death, with a forensic doctor appointed to determine the cause.

Discovery at the Sports Complex

Emergency services were called to the scene in the early afternoon of Monday, July 20, after receiving a report of a water rescue at the Heilig-Hartstraat sports complex. According to VRT NWS, firefighters arriving at the scene found the man’s body hidden among bushes in the ditch.

A father walking with his child near the bicycle parking area made the initial discovery in the early afternoon. Het Laatste Nieuws reported that the father rushed to the swimming pool to alert staff, and a lifeguard hurried outside, but all help came too late.

Investigation Underway

Police zone RIHO (Roeselare-Izegem-Hooglede) secured the scene, cordoning off the area around the discovery site. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders was notified and immediately appointed a forensic doctor to investigate.

“An investigation has been launched into this unclear death and a forensic doctor has been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the death,” a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office told Focus-WTV. “According to initial findings, no external signs of violence have been found.”

Police Chief Curd Neyrinck of the RIHO police zone confirmed to VRT NWS that the circumstances of the man’s death are still under investigation.

No Signs of Violence

The absence of external signs of violence leaves several possibilities open, including accidental drowning, a medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, or other non-violent causes. Toxicology results and autopsy findings are pending, and authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity pending family notification.

According to Het Nieuws van West-Vlaanderen, the area around the discovery was closed off for a period of time, but the swimming pool itself remained open to the public throughout the investigation.

Questions Remain

Several key questions remain unanswered as the investigation continues. It is not yet known whether the man was a local resident, how he came to be in the ditch, or whether he had any connection to the sports complex or swimming pool. No witnesses to the actual incident have come forward.

The story has drawn significant local attention, with coverage from multiple Belgian media outlets including the public broadcaster VRT NWS, major newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, and regional outlets Focus-WTV and Het Nieuws van West-Vlaanderen.

What’s Next

Authorities are awaiting the results of the forensic examination and toxicology tests, which may provide crucial clues about the cause of death. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders continues to lead the investigation, and further updates are expected as forensic results become available.

The case serves as a reminder of the thorough investigative procedures that follow unexplained deaths in Belgium, where the appointment of an independent forensic doctor is standard practice in such circumstances.