Cyclist Safety Concerns Rise After Multiple Falls into Belgium’s Senne River

The new victim, Nele, aged 40, lost her balance on her bicycle after hitting a branch, and fell into the river. "I was swept away by the current for several meters. I managed to climb back up to the bank," she said. After Nele, another 14-year-old girl who was cycling also fell into the Senne in Eppegem. She was rescued by firefighters and handed over safe and sound to her parents, reports Nieuwsblad.

Imane Khraiss was not as lucky as these last two victims. Two months ago, the 25-year-old woman lost her life after falling into the Belgian river. Her family has still not recovered from this painful loss. "It’s still very difficult for us. I went to the site to pay tribute to Imane and lay flowers, but I haven’t been back since. I haven’t ridden a bike since what happened to my sister. For our family, this new accident confirms how easy it is to fall into the water at this location," said her sister Safaa, who is glad the latest incidents were not fatal.

"Something needs to be done. We don’t know what could happen. Too few preventive measures are taken. We could raise the edge of the road, so that in case of impact, the person does not fall directly into the water. Or install ladders at several dangerous points in the river. That way, a person could easily get out of the water before starting to get cold," said Safaa, during a meeting between her family and the mayor of Zemst, Veerle Geerinckx, after Imane’s death. So far, no action has been taken by the authorities.