French footballer Kenzo Kies dies at 21 in swimming accident in the Rhône

Kies was a player for the French second-division club EA Guingamp. The club confirmed the death of its player via the platform X and expressed its grief. Kies had moved to Guingamp the previous summer and was part of the reserve team there.

The Lyon native had been trained for seven years in the youth academy of AS Saint-Étienne before leaving the club. His former training club also reacted with dismay to the news of the death of its former player.

Reactions from the football world

AS Monaco also expressed its condolences to the family and the club. The reactions from the French football scene reflected the shock over the sudden death of the young player, who was only at the beginning of his professional career.

The news agency dpa also picked up the case and reported on the circumstances of the tragedy. Associations and fans commemorated the deceased on social networks.

Heatwave and swimming accidents in France

The exact circumstances of the accident, particularly the question of how the tragedy could have occurred despite the bathing ban at this location, were the subject of ongoing reporting. In connection with the ongoing heatwave, the authorities once again pointed to the dangers of bathing in river sections with strong currents.

The case is part of a series of swimming accidents that have shaken France during the current heatwave. Rescue services and authorities called on the public to enter the water only at designated and supervised bathing areas.