A true tragedy! 19-year-old cyclist Tuur Hancke dies from severe infection
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Talented young cyclist Tuur Hancke, just 19 years old, has tragically passed away from a severe infection, reports Bild.
According to Tuur's father, as quoted in the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, his son began feeling unwell after returning from a training session. Tuur initially thought it was just a cold, as he had been cycling in the rain a few days earlier. However, when his condition didn't improve, he visited a doctor, who diagnosed him with the flu.
By the evening of the same day, Tuur's condition worsened, and he was unable to stand. He was rushed to the hospital, where antibiotics were prescribed. Unfortunately, this did not help; after a brief improvement, Tuur passed away by 2 a.m.
Local emergency service workers reported that the athlete had developed sepsis, which spread throughout his body rapidly.
"It is rare for someone to be affected by bacterial inflammation so quickly. The infection spread throughout his entire body," said Dimitri Hemelsoet, a neurologist at the Ghent clinic.
The news has sent shockwaves through Tuur's family, friends, and loved ones. It is possible that if the diagnosis had been made even slightly earlier, there might have been a chance to save him.
