Belgian Tourist Dragged Ten Meters During Violent Attempted Robbery at Sint Maarten Music Festival

A Belgian traveler was dragged by robbers on a scooter during a Caribbean festival. Read about the incident and the community response in Sint Maarten.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 3:38 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from news.com.au

A Violent Confrontation on the Street

A Belgian tourist identified as Sarah Hertens was subjected to a violent attempted robbery while attending the SXM Festival in Sint Maarten. According to Hertens, two men on a scooter approached her and her partner, Roel, and attempted to forcibly snatch her bag which was wrapped around her arm. The force of the encounter caused the fifty one year old to fall to the ground, where she was dragged approximately ten meters along a rough road surface. Hertens described the sensation as if her arm were being pulled from its socket while the assailants continued to tug at her belongings.

The Catamaran Journey Interrupted

The victims have been living full time on their catamaran, HeRo, and were exploring the Caribbean when the incident took place on the final day of the festival in late March. According to the couple, the attackers had their faces partially obscured by scarves and used significant physical force to separate them. While Hertens was being dragged, her partner attempted to intervene but was held back by the second assailant and punched in the face. The bag in question contained essential travel items, including bank cards and the keys to their vessel, which made the resistance a matter of necessity for the sailors.

Local Intervention and Attacker Flight

The struggle eventually attracted the attention of nearby residents and festival goers, whose presence likely prevented further injury or theft. According to Hertens, several locals approached the scene of the struggle, which prompted the two men on the scooter to flee empty handed. Despite the violent nature of the exchange, Hertens managed to maintain possession of her bag, though she sustained physical marks and bruising across her arm. The intervention of the community was cited by the couple as a crucial factor in deescalating the situation before the robbers could potentially use weapons.