Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old French soccer player with second-division club Guingamp, died after drowning in the Rhone River during the severe heat wave gripping France. He was pulled from the river on Monday in critical condition and later declared brain dead.
Heat wave sets new records
France recorded its hottest day ever for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Meteo France reported the national thermal indicator, an average of temperatures at 30 weather stations, hit a new record of 30°C (86°F). The mercury exceeded 40°C (104°F) in some locations, including Paris.
Drowning fatalities spike
At least 40 drowning fatalities have been recorded in the past week as people seek relief in rivers and other bodies of water, despite warnings about unsupervised swimming. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said most of the drownings involved young people. Kies drowned in a prohibited swimming area near Lyon.
Tributes from clubs
Both Guingamp and Saint-Etienne, where Kies spent seven years in the club's academy, paid tribute in statements late Wednesday. The incident highlights the dangers of swimming in unsupervised areas during extreme heat.
