The student, who was originally from Edegem, suffered a cardiac arrest after carrying out several assignments during a ‘hazing baptism’ imposed by the Leuven-based Reuzegom student society. One of the assignments involved drinking a large quantity of fish sauce. He may have died due to the high sodium content of the sauce, combined with hypothermia. He was taken to hospital along with two other prospective society members last week, and died on Friday afternoon.
The Belgian Public Prosecution Service has commenced an investigation. Five members of the student society have by now been heard. KU Leuven (the Catholic University of Leuven) will investigate the matter, as well.
