A young French soccer player died on Tuesday after he was found floating in the Rhône River near Lyon, a victim of the country’s unprecedented heat wave. Emergency responders recovered the body of Kenzo Kies, 21, whose death has shocked both the local sports community and the broader public.
A Summer of Heat and Tragedy
Kies had been a member of the youth training program at AS Saint‑Étienne and had recently signed a contract with En Avant Guingamp. Both clubs issued heartfelt tributes, describing him as a talented and well‑liked teammate and extending their support to his family during this difficult time.
His death is one of more than 40 drowning incidents reported in France since the heat wave began on June 18. Temperatures in Lyon reached 106°F on the day of the accident, a level that health officials say makes outdoor exertion especially risky, particularly for swimmers who ignore official warnings.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist has urged residents to take extreme caution, emphasizing the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding unsupervised bodies of water, and heeding safety advisories as the nation grapples with soaring temperatures.