In the North Brabant village of Driessen, a 23-year-old man died after an accident during carbide shooting. That reports the Tilburg police on Twitter. The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later died.
In Drachten, a young child was seriously injured while setting off fireworks. The victim was taken to hospital and, according to the police, was located on a private property around a residential house. The age of the child and how the accident could have happened is not yet known.
The accident with the carbide shooting happened at 4.40 pm, how it could have happened is still unknown. The police are currently hearing witnesses, but for now assume a fatal accident.
Earlier, the police spoke of a 25-year-old man who was taken to hospital in “worrying condition”. Victim support has been arranged for the forty people who were present at the carbide shooting.
Shooting carbide
Carbid is a compound of carbon and calcium. In carbide shooting, a small piece of carbide is placed in an empty milk churn and wetted. The resulting gas is ignited through a hole in the bottom of the milk churn. A ball placed on top of the bus is shot away.
The tradition known especially in the north and east of the country is cultural intangible heritage. Since 2015, hospitals in the regions of Friesland, Drenthe, Groningen, Overijssel and Gelderland have launched a campaign for carbide shooting every year: the BOCK, the Consciously Oplettende Carbid Knaller. This person pays special attention to safety during shooting.
Carbid is not officially fireworks and therefore does not fall within the fireworks ban. Municipalities themselves determine the guidelines for the tradition.
Last year, a total of about 400 people were injured by fireworks during New Year’s Eve. A sharp decrease compared to the previous turn of the year, as a result of the general ban on fireworks due to the corona pandemic.