Man Seriously Injured in 20-Meter Fall into Shaft in Brussels Center
A 50-year-old man was seriously injured early Thursday morning after falling approximately 20 meters into a ventilation shaft between two buildings in the center of Brussels. Emergency services rescued the man, who was transported to hospital in critical condition but is no longer in life-threatening danger, according to VRT NWS.
The Incident
The incident occurred in the Magdalenastraat (rue de la Madeleine), a historic street near the Grand Place in Brussels’ city center. Emergency services were alerted in the early hours of Thursday morning by people who heard groaning sounds coming from an unknown location.
“Thursday morning around 3 AM, our services in the center of Brussels were called by people who had heard groaning,” said police spokesperson Ilse Van de Keere, as reported by Bruzz. “After a thorough search, police officers found a person in a ventilated shaft about 2 meters wide and about twenty meters deep. This shaft is located between 2 buildings and is only accessible via the roofs.”
The victim, a man born in 1976, was found at the bottom of the shaft with a nosebleed and other injuries. He remained conscious throughout the ordeal.
Complex Rescue Operation
The rescue required specialized intervention. The RISC team (Rescue In Safe Conditions) of the Brussels fire brigade, supported by the MUG/SMUR emergency medical team, was deployed for the evacuation. The location was only accessible via the flat roof of one of the buildings, and rescue services had to use the Bortier Gallery to reach the scene, as confirmed by fire brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw in La Dernière Heure.
Investigation Underway
“The victim was transported to the hospital in serious condition, but is no longer in life-threatening danger,” Van de Keere said. “Given the particular circumstances of the facts, the public prosecutor’s office was informed. The investigation is still ongoing and at this moment the accident hypothesis is considered the most likely.”
According to La Libre, the exact circumstances of the fall had not yet been established as of Thursday morning. The case highlights the hidden hazards that can exist in the narrow spaces between historic buildings in Brussels’ densely built city center.
What’s Next
As the investigation continues, authorities will seek to determine how the man came to fall into the shaft. The public prosecutor’s office has been notified, and the accident hypothesis remains the leading theory. The victim’s identity has not been publicly disclosed.