Frédéric Erens trapped in Flemish Parliament restroom for 13 hours

Frédéric Erens, a 58-year-old Flemish Parliament member, was trapped inside a restroom stall for 13 hours after a lock malfunctioned on Tuesday, September 15. The incident occurred in Brussels after a meeting when Erens went to the restroom, having left his mobile phone on his desk.

Due to the fireproof nature of the doors, ventilation was limited, causing Erens to struggle for air. To prevent suffocation, he used a metal object to drill two holes in the door to allow oxygen to circulate. He was eventually discovered by cleaning staff around 6:00 AM the following morning.

Emergency services had to use a crowbar to release him. Erens was transported to Saint-Jean Hospital in Brussels for respiratory examinations but was discharged shortly after. The Flemish Parliament has stated it will examine the lock and consider measures to prevent a recurrence.