Tom Pintens died in August 2023. — © Fred Debrock
“When Tom was dead, I thought: they shouldn’t take him to the morgue. He hated hospitals.” After the death of musician Tom Pintens last year, Laurence Roothooft (37) left her partner’s body to rest at home on an ice sheet for six days. She tells this in Humo.
The MIA for best musician that Tom Pintens received posthumously leaves his relatives with mixed feelings, but was no less justified. The multi-talented played and produced with groups such as Het Zesde Metaal and Zita Swoon, and was Tamino’s mentor. He was diagnosed with colon cancer at the beginning of 2022, with metastases in his liver and lungs. Winning the battle would not work. But he continued to make music. Pintens worked on the Zesde Metaal album in his last weeks The longest year finished, and also wanted to finish an album with his life partner Laurence Roothooft. He didn’t think about saying goodbye.
READ ALSO.With Tom Pintens, Flanders loses one of its most fascinating musical jack-of-all-trades
“He said to friends: ‘See you next time.’ Even though everyone knew that it would not happen,” says Roothooft in Humo. “He tried so hard to ignore the inevitable.” When Pintens died in August 2023, at the age of 48, Roothooft also did not want to let go. She kept track of his body for days.
“When Tom died, the first thing I thought was: they shouldn’t take him to the morgue. Tom hated hospitals. I wasn’t even allowed to say the word ‘hospital’: I had to say ‘hospital’, he was very strict about that. Coincidentally, the year before I had read an article about a woman, Vanessa, and her alternative funeral company Trøst. I had that piece cut out and kept. When Tom died, I thought: I should call her. She arranged everything. She brought an ice sheet, which was placed under Tom’s body so he could remain in his hospital bed. She came by every day to see if the body was well preserved and if everyone was still okay.” (Read more below the photo)
Tom Pintens and partner Laurence Roothooft, two months before his death. — © Fred Debrock
Ultimately, Pintens’ body rested at home for another six days. “I really believed that Tom’s soul was still here and needed time to find its place,” says Roothooft. “Every night I would wake up around five o’clock and lie down with him. Even when it got too busy here, I would lie down next to Tom and people knew to leave me alone for a while. The day Tom’s body was carried outside, I felt: it’s okay.”
Roofthooft also keeps him alive in music. The Elders album, her project with Pintens that she completed alone, will be released next week. “If he saw me now, he’d say, ‘You’re doing so well.’ I often think that. He could encourage me so much.” (dvg)
READ ALSO.“He was exhausted, but never complained”: Sixth Metaal frontman Wannes Cappelle about the farewell of Tom Pintens
