The two Dutch people in love who died for unclear reasons during their holiday in Colombia last summer, presumably died after drinking a mind-expanding drink. Various Colombian media write this on the basis of a police press conference. The cause of death was initially thought to be food poisoning.
In recent months, much has been written in the Colombian and Dutch media about the holiday trip of 31-year-old Bob Kootte and his 29-year-old girlfriend Nienke Bawa, which came to a dramatic end in August. The Colombian police now states that the two have had medical complications after taking a drink. It would be yage, a mixture of different plants that can make you hallucinate. It is comparable to ayahuasca, which is banned in the Netherlands.
Everyone reacts differently to these kinds of drinks, says the Colombian police chief at a press conference. In some parts of Colombia, the drug is used for relaxation. The police chief thinks that the two Dutchmen have taken the drug in Medellín or Santa Marta. They had complications after arriving at their hostel in Cartagena, writes the well-known Colombian newspaper, among others El Universal.
That Nienke and Bob would have become ill from poisoned food in a restaurant in Cartagena – which was first suggested by the police – has now been ruled out, according to the police chief. The owner of the restaurant, the mayor’s son, denied from the start that his restaurant had anything to do with the death of the Dutch. “They ran tests on our food and found no fault. Justice came to us and told us that it was not with us,” said owner Abraham Dau at the time.
Medical assistance
According to the Colombian police, the two Dutch people received medical attention when they started not feeling well in their hostel in the morning. The ambulance crew then left. In the evening the complaints worsened, after which the hotel owner decided to call the ambulance again. The first thing rescuers saw when they went to the couple “was that one of them was completely in shock.” Finally, the two died in the hospital two hours apart, on Tuesday, August 23.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that he is familiar with the media reports. He himself has not received any messages about the cause of death. “The local authorities are responsible for this,” said the spokesman.
Bewilderment
Colleagues and fellow students reacted with shock to the events at the time. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague Bob,” the international bank JP Morgan said in a statement. Nienke’s company also reacted dumbfounded. “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of our sparkling and very talented colleague Nienke and her partner Bob,” multinational company Procter & Gamble said in a statement.
Golden couple
According to family, Nienke Bawa (29) and Bob Kootte (31) were full of life and loved all the beautiful things the world had to offer. In 2011, Nienke went to the Hotel School The Hague, where she became a member of a fraternity. She became a welcome guest at drinks. The credo soon became: ‘Nienke has arrived, the party can begin.’ She was a social animal, fellow student Leonie Idsinga told earlier the parole: ,,Nienke was incredibly interested in other people. She was always the first to approach new people and had many friends.”
In 2017 she met Bob Kootte through a dating site. The relationship fit like a glove. “They were a golden couple, they had the same interests, were both Burgundians, loved to travel, good food, parties and drinks,” say their friends.
Invest in friendship
Born on June 15, 1991 in Rotterdam as the eldest in a family of four, Bob was a curious child. “He looked wise and wanted to discover the world,” said his mother Jeannie Pleumeekers. His eagerness to learn quickly made him the darling of many teachers. “He had a phenomenal memory and knew the flags of all countries by heart at a young age,” said his father Gerrit Kootte.
After studying economics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Bob wanted to go into business. His father: ,,He wanted to become a banker and live like God in France and let everyone enjoy it. Investing in friendships and his family was the most important thing in his life.”
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Tags: Mystery surrounding deceased Dutch golden couple Colombia takes twist
