Mechelen – Earlier this week, three girls at De Nekker in Mechelen reported spotting a “crocodile,” which turned out to be a plastic training object. Spokeswoman Ellen Wauters and firefighters confirmed no danger, reports 24brussels.
The incident unfolded on August 22, 2025, when the girls, while on surfboards, drew the attention of local residents and authorities with their claims of a crocodile sighting. This prompted an immediate investigation due to concerns for public safety.
Upon inspection, authorities found no evidence of a crocodile in the waters. The situation was revealed to be a false alarm, with the girls’ encounter posing no actual risk to visitors.
The Object Mistaken for a Crocodile
Wauters emphasized that the report was taken seriously, underscoring the authorities’ commitment to ensuring public safety.
“We took the report seriously and immediately contacted the fire department,”
she stated.
Firefighters arrived promptly to conduct a thorough examination of the area. Their search confirmed that there was no crocodile present, assuring that De Nekker remains a safe place for outdoor and water activities.
Wauters explained that the pond serves as a training site for divers, and recent drought conditions had lowered the water level, making certain objects visible that are usually submerged.
“Due to the drought, the water level has dropped, making some objects that are normally underwater visible,”
she noted. Some surfboard users, driven by curiosity, ventured into sections where swimming is typically restricted.
Following the incident, the management of De Nekker collaborated with the fire department to track down the teenagers who had recorded the footage. They identified the three girls who confirmed that they had indeed seen a stationary plastic object in the water.
“It might make for some spectacular footage and a compelling story, but thanks to the alert response from De Nekker and the fire department, it quickly became clear that there were no unwanted visitors in the pond,”
Wauters stated.
“Finally, we want to make it clear that we appreciate alert, concerned, and engaged swimmers in De Nekker. This applies in all circumstances, including reports of plastic crocodiles,”
she concluded.
A similar situation transpired in Flanders in 2019, when a submerged log in a recreational pond was mistaken for a crocodile, causing panic among swimmers and visitors. Such misidentifications often occur when water levels are unusually low, exposing objects typically hidden beneath the surface.
