Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old professional footballer for Ligue 2 side En Avant Guingamp, has been declared brain dead after a drowning incident in the Rhone River near Lyon, France. The tragedy occurred on Monday, June 23, 2026, amid an intense heatwave that saw temperatures in Lyon reach 39.8°C.
Incident Details
Local emergency services were called to the Rhone River waterfront around 5:30pm after reports that four people, including Kies, had been dragged into a strong current. Two individuals were rescued without needing medical attention, while a third required resuscitation and was taken to hospital in stable condition. Divers were needed to retrieve Kies, but despite resuscitation efforts, he was declared brain dead. An investigation into the incident has been opened.
Heatwave Warnings
The tragedy comes as France experiences a severe heatwave. On Monday, Lyon broke its temperature record, reaching 38.5°C at 4pm and later 39.8°C, placing the city under an orange weather alert. French sports minister Marina Ferrari issued a warning, stating, "Around 20 people have drowned since the start of last weekend. I urge people to respect the safety warnings. People go to swim in unsupervised areas during heatwaves, and it is not a trivial matter. I understand people want to go into the water to cool down. But they really have to stick to areas that are supervised."
Player Background
Kies began his football career with Lyon's youth system in 2010, spending eight years there before moving to Saint-Etienne. After his contract with Saint-Etienne expired, he joined Guingamp. Despite his young age, Kies was considered a promising prospect with a bright future ahead. The football community has expressed shock and grief over the loss.
