Recently voted out mayor of Sylt is dead

Former mayor of the popular German holiday island of Sylt, Nikolas Häckel, has died at the age of 50.

Häckel, who was mayor for 12 years, died suddenly on Friday, 24th February 2023, the municipality of Sylt confirmed.

The cause of death is not yet known, but police said there were no signs of foul play.

Häckel was a controversial figure during his time as mayor. He was known for his outspoken views and his focus on tourism.

He was also a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

Häckel was born in Westerland on Sylt in 1973. He studied law in Kiel and worked as a lawyer before entering politics.

He was first elected mayor of Sylt in 2010 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2022.

In the 2022 election, Häckel faced a challenge from independent candidate Ronny Meyer.

Meyer, a businessman and former professional footballer, campaigned on a platform of change and promised to bring new ideas to the island.

Häckel lost the election by a narrow margin, with Meyer winning 50.2% of the vote to Häckel's 49.8%.

Häckel's death has shocked the community of Sylt. He was a well-known and respected figure on the island.

Flags on Sylt have been flown at half-mast in his memory.

Häckel is survived by his wife and two children.