Dutch tourist dies after boat capsizes on tour at Iguazu Falls

A tragic accident took the life of young Dutchman Mark Lensink, aged 26, on the afternoon of July 29, 2026. The visitor was vacationing with relatives and participating in the traditional Macuco Safari attraction, located at Iguaçu Falls, in western Paraná, when the boat they were on ended up capsizing in the choppy waters of the border region.

Professional trajectory and origin of the European visitor

The boy lived in the city of Rijssen, located in the province of Overijssel, in the eastern portion of the Netherlands, and was enjoying a period of rest in Brazilian territory alongside his loved ones. In his profiles on social networks and employment platforms, the foreigner highlighted his work in the construction industry, being one of the employees of the family company Lensink Bouwservice, which operates in the European construction market.

In addition to his practical experience in the construction sector, the European had an academic degree from the Saxion University of Applied Sciences, a prestigious higher education institution based in his home country. The fatality that interrupted his trajectory mobilized a large apparatus of local rescuers and, now, the developments in the case are under the investigative responsibility of the Civil Police of the State of Paraná and officers of the Brazilian Navy.

Shipwreck dynamics in the rapids of the Iguaçu River

During the excursion, the victim occupied an exclusive boat operated by the Macuco Safari concessionaire, sharing the space with five other people from his family, as well as the main driver and a navigation assistant. The itinerary for this radical tour consists of climbing the riverbed facing strong currents to get as close as possible to the famous waterfalls, one of the most popular experiences for those visiting the border between Brazil and Argentina.

Official data released by the team at the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) indicate that the boat overturned occurred around midday, within the environmental protection area of ​​the Iguaçu National Park. With the impact and force of the current, all occupants, who, as per park rules, wear reinforced life jackets, were thrown into the river, but support teams managed to remove them from the water in quick action.

The complex rescue operation required an integrated task force, bringing together employees from the tourism company itself and public health and safety agents, who are aware of the difficulties in accessing the canyon. Professionals from the Fire Department, doctors from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), military personnel from the Navy and inspectors from ICMBio worked together to provide first aid to the shipwrecked in the shortest possible time.

According to the bulletin issued by firefighters, the Dutch tourist suffered a severe drowning that progressed to a cardiorespiratory arrest shortly after falling into the turbulent waters. The rescuers began resuscitation maneuvers still on the premises of the ecological reserve, transferring him by boat to the base of Port Kattamaram, from where an ambulance rushed him to the Padre Germano Lauck Municipal Hospital, but attempts to reverse the clinical condition failed and his death was certified at the health unit.

Health status of the other rescued passengers

The tragic outcome for the 26-year-old was not the only physical consequence of the vessel’s tipping over, as three other relatives who accompanied him required urgent medical intervention.

The rescue team treated these other victims with different levels of severity after the impact on the river waters, sending them for specialized assessment:

• A 49-year-old man was hospitalized and kept under medical observation in a stable condition.
• A 48-year-old woman ended up suffering a broken foot during the confusion at the time of the wreck.
• A third relative received the necessary care at the health unit and was released after detailed clinical examinations.

Investigations seek to clarify security flaws

To understand exactly what caused the tragedy, the Paraná Civil Police launched an official investigation that will map every minute of the tourist tour. Investigators have already begun collecting statements from the surviving victims, the tour operator’s employees and witnesses, material that will be cross-referenced with the technical reports prepared by the Scientific Police experts, responsible for analyzing the boat’s structure.

In parallel, the local command of the Brazilian Navy opened an Administrative Inquiry into Navigation Accidents and Facts (IAFN) to assess the condition of the vessel and the conduct of the pilots, as the river is a federal waterway. The goal of this military procedure is to discover the determining factors for the capsize and point out possible negligence or legal responsibilities for the accident that occurred at the border.

Temporary suspension of nautical activities in the park

As an immediate response to the fatality and to ensure the fairness of the initial investigations, ICMBio management determined the total suspension of tours operated by Macuco Safari. The restrictive measure came into force on July 30, 2026 and was initially stipulated to last three consecutive days, affecting the schedule of hundreds of tourists who visit the site daily.

The federal environmental agency made a point of highlighting that the outsourced company operated regularly, having all the licenses, permits and certifications required to commercially explore the tourist route, which has a rigorous history of control. The temporary blocking of boats serves solely as a preventative safety protocol, allowing authorities to inspect equipment and the stretch of river without putting new groups of visitors at risk.