Nikolas Häckel: Former Sylt Mayor Dies at 50

Nikolas Häckel, the former mayor of the popular German holiday island of Sylt, has passed away at the age of 50.

Cause of Death Unknown

The cause of Häckel's death has not been released to the public. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Political Career

Häckel was a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and served as mayor of Sylt from 2018 until his defeat in the 2022 election.

During his time in office, Häckel oversaw the construction of a new dike to protect the island from flooding. He also worked to promote tourism and economic development on Sylt.

Tributes Pour In

Following Häckel's death, tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum.

The current mayor of Sylt, Lars Schmidt, said that Häckel was "a dedicated and passionate advocate for our island." He added that Häckel will be "greatly missed."

The state premier of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, also expressed his condolences. He said that Häckel was "a great loss to politics and the people of Sylt."

Legacy

Häckel's legacy as mayor of Sylt is likely to be defined by his work on the new dike. The dike was completed in 2021 and has been credited with protecting the island from flooding during several storms.

Häckel was also a strong advocate for tourism on Sylt. He worked to promote the island as a destination for both domestic and international visitors.