Four residents honored for courageous rescue
Mayor Andries Bouwman has honored four residents of Opsterland for their courageous actions in rescuing a man who fell into the water in the Compagnonsfeart near Lippenhuizen in June. On behalf of the Royal Society for the Rescue of Drowning Persons (KMRD), the mayor presented bronze medals to Esther van Lierop, Anton Bot, Eva Niemeijer, and Rick Schaaf. The rescued man, Frens van der Werf, attended the ceremony with his wife Tiny van der Werf and expressed his gratitude to the rescuers.
Courageous action
On Friday afternoon, June 13, around 2:40 p.m., a cyclist fell into the water in the Compagnonsfeart near Lippenhuizen. Esther van Lierop, a passing cyclist, jumped into the water and managed to rescue the unconscious drowning victim. Van Lierop's partner called 911. Two paddleboarders, Eva Niemeijer and Rick Schaaf, also offered their help and pulled the drowning man onto their board. With the support of the emergency services, who had arrived in the meantime, the victim was brought to shore and rushed to the hospital.
Award
During the meeting, Mayor Bouwman expressed his great appreciation for the decisive and selfless actions of the rescuers: "In a society that is becoming increasingly individualistic, it is remarkable and admirable when people take responsibility for others without hesitation. Such actions form the foundation of our community and deserve great appreciation."
Henk Leegte, board member of the KMRD, also reflected on the courage and effectiveness with which the rescue was carried out and explained the importance of recognizing such acts.
