The squatters were in the old diving shop, right along the Kempen bridge. — © Serge Minten
Hasselt –
A 53-year-old homeless man was taken away in critical condition on Tuesday night after being electrocuted in a squat on the Gouverneur Verwilghensingel in Hasselt. He suffered severe burns to his hands, arms and face.
Dirk Jacobs as Olivier Simons
Source: BELGAWednesday, June 26, 2024 at 9:12 PM
The police received the call around 23:30. The incidents took place in the vacant building of the old diving shop, right next to the intersection with the Kempische Steenweg and the canal bridge. The building is covered in graffiti and is known to the police as a squat. There were also several squatters on Tuesday evening. The 53-year-old man, who is registered in Hasselt, was probably sitting at an electricity box and touched an exposed cable, causing him to be electrocuted.
“When we arrived, the medical teams were already working on the victim,” says Dorien Baens of the LRH police. “He had severe burns to his hands, arms and face, and was taken to the Neder-Over-Heembeek burn center in a critical condition.”
Nothing is known about the man’s current condition. The South West Limburg fire brigade arrived on site on Tuesday evening to board up all windows and doors at the back of the building, so that any other squatters can no longer enter.
The display case still shows items belonging to squatters. — © Serge Minten
© Serge Minten
© Serge Minten
