A man drowned in Ostend on Sunday evening after trying to retrieve his keys that he had dropped into the canal.
The incident occurred in the Ostend-Bruges canal, near the Koninklijk Werk Ibis naval school on Prinses Elisabethlaan. A man's keys fell into the water. Two men, aged 29 and 21, tried to retrieve the keys. The older man slipped and fell into the water.
The younger man attempted to rescue his friend, but due to the strong current, was also dragged into the water. Bystanders quickly called the emergency services and managed to pull the 21-year-old out of the water. He was transported to hospital in a serious condition, but his condition has since improved.
The other man, an Ostend local, was swept away by the current. Rescuers quickly launched a search to locate the man, which lasted until 21:00 on Sunday. Rescuers were unable to locate the man's body.
The lifeless corpse of the man was later discovered by a passer-by on Monday morning around 07:30 near a quay behind the Ostend station.
