21-Year-Old French Footballer Dies After Drowning

21-Year-Old French Footballer Dies After Drowning
The 21-year-old entered the river during an intense heatwave.
Guingamp and Saint-Etienne paid emotional tributes to the player.

French football has been thrown into mourning following the death of 21-year-old Guingamp player Kenzo Kies, who drowned in the Rhône River near Lyon during the intense heatwave currently affecting parts of France.

Kies was pulled from the river by firefighters on Monday after a search operation and was rushed to hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, the young footballer later died.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to reports, Kies entered the river with three friends as temperatures soared across the country, reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius in some regions this week. Emergency responders were able to rescue the other three individuals, while Kies was the last person to be located.

His death is one of several tragedies linked to the ongoing heatwave in France. Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu disclosed that at least 40 people had drowned in incidents connected to the extreme weather conditions since last Thursday.

Kies began his football career in the youth academies of Lyon and Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp in 2025. He played for the club’s reserve team and was widely regarded as a promising young talent.

Guingamp confirmed his death in a statement posted on 𝕏.

“Guingamp has had the sorrow of learning of the death of Kenzo Kies, a young player with the club,” the club said.

The Ligue 2 side added that it would provide its “full support” to the player’s family during what it described as a painful period.

Saint-Etienne, where Kies spent seven years developing through the club’s youth ranks, also paid tribute to the late footballer.

The club said: “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.”

21-Year-Old French Footballer Dies After Drowning

The death of the young footballer has sparked an outpouring of grief from teammates, coaches, supporters and members of the French football community, who have continued to pay tribute to a player whose career was only just beginning.