A family outing ended tragically on the afternoon of July 29, 2026, when 26-year-old Dutch tourist Mark Lensink lost his life. The fatal victim was on board a boat from the traditional Macuco Safari attraction, which ended up capsizing in the waters of Iguaçu Falls, located in the Paraná city of Foz do Iguaçu.
Trajectory of the young European who spent vacations in southern Brazil
Resident of the municipality of Rijssen, located in the province of Overissel, in the eastern region of the Netherlands, the boy was enjoying a period of rest in Brazilian territory accompanied by relatives. In his professional profiles on the internet, he described his work in the construction sector, where he worked directly in his own family’s company, Lensink Bouwservice.
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The foreigner’s academic training took place at Saxion Hogeschool, a higher education institution also based in the Netherlands. The overturning of the boat mobilized a large contingent of rescuers at the border and, now, the developments in the case are under the investigative responsibility of the Civil Police of the State of Paraná, working together with the Brazilian Navy.
Shipwreck dynamics during navigation through the rapids of the Iguaçu River
The group had contracted an exclusive itinerary offered by the Macuco Safari concessionaire, sharing the space of the twin-engine boat with only five family members, in addition to the pilot and navigation assistant. The tourist route consists of climbing the bed of the Iguaçu River to face the strong currents near the waterfalls, an experience that attracts millions of visitors annually to the national park.
Official data released by the management of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) indicate that the nautical structure capsized around noon, strictly within the federal preservation area. The sudden movement threw all the occupants into the choppy waters, but support teams managed to quickly remove the victims from the river.
The task force set up for the immediate rescue included the participation of employees from the tour operator itself, military personnel from the Fire Department, professionals from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), Navy agents and inspectors from ICMBio.
More on this story: 26-year-old Dutch tourist dies after tour boat capsizes at Iguazu Falls
Firefighters reported that the young European suffered a severe drowning, progressing to cardiorespiratory arrest shortly afterwards. The initial resuscitation maneuvers began on the banks of the river, before he was transferred by water to the base of Port Kattamaram, from where an advanced support ambulance took him to the Padre Germano Lauck Municipal Hospital, a medical unit where his death was certified by those on duty after further rescue attempts.
Health status of relatives who survived the incident in the park
The impact of the accident was not restricted to the fatal loss, requiring health teams to provide emergency care to three other members of the Dutch family.
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The medical bulletin detailed the situation of each of the survivors rescued after the sinking:
- A 49-year-old man had to be admitted to the hospital, remaining under clinical monitoring with a condition considered stable.
- A 48-year-old woman fractured one of her feet during the fall into the water and was immediately immobilized.
- A third passenger from the same family group underwent a detailed assessment and was discharged shortly after the usual examinations.
Open investigations to determine the legal responsibilities for the listing
The Paraná Civil Police launched a formal investigation to map out all the circumstances that led to the disaster at the natural attraction. Investigators have already begun collecting statements from survivors, the victim’s relatives and company employees, material that will be cross-referenced with the technical reports prepared by Scientific Police experts.
Learn more: Dutch tourist loses his life after boat capsizes at Iguazu Falls
In parallel, the local command of the Brazilian Navy opened an Administrative Inquiry into Navigation Accidents and Facts (IAFN). The military procedure’s main focus is to discover what caused the boat’s loss of stability and to identify possible human or mechanical errors in the conduct of the tour.
Temporary suspension of nautical activities by federal determination
As an immediate response to the fatality, ICMBio management issued an order to preventively stop Macuco Safari’s operations for a period of three days, a measure that came into force on the morning of July 30, 2026.
The federal environmental agency made a point of highlighting that the outsourced company operated with all licenses and safety certifications strictly up to date, offering a service that has a consolidated history of border security. The temporary blocking of boat exits serves exclusively to guarantee the integrity of future visitors and allow authorities to inspect the equipment without any type of external interference.