French football mourns the death of 21-year-old Guingamp player Kenzo Kies after he drowned in the Rhône river near Lyon during France’s ongoing heatwave.
Kenzo Kies was pulled from the water by firefighters on Monday and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Despite efforts to save him, he later died.
The young footballer had entered the river with three friends as temperatures soared across parts of France, reaching as high as 40C this week. Emergency services rescued the other three, but Kies was the last to be located.
His death comes amid a series of heatwave-related tragedies across the country. Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said 40 people had drowned in incidents linked to the extreme weather since last Thursday.
Kies began his football journey in the youth academies of Lyon and Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp last year. He was playing for the club’s reserve side and was regarded as a promising talent.
Guingamp announced the news in a statement on 𝕏, saying: “Guingamp has had the sorrow of learning of the death of Kenzo Kies, a young player with the club.”
The Ligue 2 side added that it would provide its “full support” to Kies’ family during this “painful ordeal”.
Saint-Etienne, where Kies spent seven years in its youth set-up, also paid an emotional tribute.
The club, “The Green Generation is in mourning. A resident of the Robert-Herbin Sports Centre for seven years, a talented player and discreet young man appreciated by all, Kenzo Kies has lost his life in dramatic circumstances.
“Saint-Etienne extends its most sincere condolences to his loved ones as well as to those, teammates and coaches alike, who shared a piece of his journey. Kenzo, in the corridors of L’Etrat, no one will ever forget you.”
