A man from Veghel drowned in a river in Albania. It concerns 67-year-old Jules Schuurmans. He went missing on Monday. He had an accident during a boat trip with his wife on a wild water river. His body was found Thursday evening.
Jules and Helma traveled through southern Europe with their camper and were now in Albania. They would have gone up the Osum River in their own inflatable boat, but were blown overboard by the current. The woman could still be saved. She was taken to hospital and a search was launched for the man.
Family members are shocked by the news. “It’s just terrible,” says a sister of Jules. “They had bought a nice camper and were enjoying life.” A cousin says: “Yesterday at the end of the afternoon we were told that his body has been found. It’s a nightmare.” Out of respect for the family, they do not want to say much about it.
“They had their own boat that is not suitable for rafting.”
Poli Loman, owner of the Dutch-Albanian travel organization of the same name, was in contact with the raft guides who found the couple. The couple would have entered the wild river without much safety precautions. “They were with their own boat that is not suitable for rafting. They were not wearing life jackets. And the woman was found hypothermic. She was wearing leggings while it is a cold river.”
According to Loman, raft guides in Albania regularly have to rescue tourists who get stuck in the river. She thinks there should be better information. “People underestimate how wild that river is.”
The couple from Veghel has three children. They are now in Albania and have established that the victim is their father. It is not clear what happened to the woman. The Dutch embassy is in contact with her, the ministry reports.