21-Year-Old French Footballer Kenzo Kies Dies After Drowning in Rhône River
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old former youth player for AS Saint-Étienne, Olympique Lyonnais, and En Avant Guingamp, drowned in the Rhône River near Lyon on June 22, 2026. He was swimming with friends in a restricted area during a heatwave (38°C) when they got into difficulty. His friends were revived, but Kies was declared brain dead and later died. The Lyon prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation. Clubs and teammates expressed shock and grief.
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French Footballer Kenzo Kies Declared Brain Dead After Swimming in Prohibited Rhône River Zone
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old professional footballer for French second-division club EA Guingamp, was declared brain dead after a swimming accident in the Rhône River near Lyon on June 24, 2026. During a severe heatwave with temperatures around 40°C, Kies entered the water with friends at the Parc de la Feyssine, a zone where swimming is strictly prohibited due to dangerous currents and wave formation. While two companions reached shore safely and another was resuscitated, Kies went under and was pulled out by firefighter divers. He was revived initially but later declared brain dead in hospital. The Lyon public prosecutor's office is investigating. France has reported around 20 drowning deaths over recent days amid the heatwave. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari urged the public to avoid unsupervised swimming. Kies' club announced his death on X, receiving condolences from clubs like AS Monaco and AS Saint-Étienne. Coach Jean-Baptiste Le Bescond called for psychological support for the team.
Nachrichten - WELTFootballer Kenzo Kies dies at 21 in heatwave drowning; Saint-Etienne plans tribute
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old former Lyon and Saint-Etienne striker, has tragically died following a drowning incident in the Rhone River near Lyon, France, on June 22, 2026. Kies was swimming in a prohibited area near Parc de la Feyssine during a heatwave with temperatures reaching 40°C. Four individuals, including Kies, were pulled under by a strong current. Emergency services recovered Kies from the river, but he was declared brain-dead despite resuscitation efforts. Two others were rescued without injury, and one was revived and hospitalized in stable condition. Kies, who joined Ligue 2 side Guingamp's reserve team after leaving Saint-Etienne last summer, was described by his former club as a 'talented player and discreet young man.' Saint-Etienne has announced plans to honor Kies with a tribute at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium next season.
Mirror - FootballFrench footballer Kenzo Kies dies at 21 in heatwave drowning incident
French footballer Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old player for Guingamp's reserve team, died after drowning in the Rhone river near Lyon on June 25, 2026. Kies and three friends entered the river to escape a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching 40°C in parts of France. Emergency services rescued three people, but Kies was the last to be found and later died in hospital. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported 40 heatwave-related drowning deaths since the previous Thursday. Kies previously played in the youth systems of Lyon and Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp in 2025. Both former clubs paid tribute, with Saint-Etienne planning a ceremony at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium. The article includes a heatwave alert map showing much of France under exceptionally high heat warnings.
BBC SportAS Saint-Étienne Announces Death of Former Youth Player Kenzo Kies by Drowning
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old former youth player for AS Saint-Étienne, Olympique Lyonnais, and En Avant Guingamp, died after drowning in the Rhône River on Monday evening. He was swimming with two friends near Parc de la Feyssine, between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire, when the group got into difficulty. While his friends were rescued, Kies did not survive and was later declared brain dead. An investigation has been opened by the Lyon public prosecutor's office. AS Saint-Étienne paid tribute to Kies, who spent seven years at their Robert-Herbin Sports Center, describing him as a talented player and discreet young man appreciated by all. The club expressed deep condolences to his family, teammates, and educators.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertYoung Footballer Kenzo Kies Dies After Drowning in Lyon's Rhône River
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old footballer trained at Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne, has died after drowning in the Rhône River near Lyon on Monday. He was pulled from the water in critical condition in a prohibited swimming area known for danger, where another man had died earlier in 2025. Kies had been in a state of brain death since the incident. He spent seven years at the Robert-Herbin Sports Center, playing for Saint-Étienne from 2018 to 2025, and signed with Guingamp last year but did not play in Ligue 2. On Wednesday, ASSE paid tribute, calling him a 'talented player and a discreet young man appreciated by all.' His three friends who were swimming with him were rescued by firefighters.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuSaint-Étienne Announces Death of Young Player Kenzo Kies After Drowning in the Rhône
On June 24, 2026, Ligue 2 club AS Saint-Étienne announced the death of 21-year-old former youth player Kenzo Kies, two days after he drowned in the Rhône River near Lyon. Kies had been in a state of brain death since Monday afternoon. Firefighters rescued him around 6 p.m. on June 22 near the Parc de la Feyssine between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire, where he was swimming with three others in a spot with waves during extreme heat (38°C). The other three managed to exit the water, but Kies was pulled out in urgent condition. Born in Lyon in 2005, Kies began his youth career at AS Bron, FC Lyon, and Olympique Lyonnais before joining AS Saint-Étienne at U14 level, where he trained for seven years. He moved to En Avant Guingamp (also Ligue 2) last summer but played sparingly. An investigation has been opened. ASSE expressed deep condolences, calling him a 'talented player and discreet young man.'
Home Football - actualitésAS Saint-Étienne supports former trainee Kenzo Kies after drowning leaves him brain dead
AS Saint-Étienne has publicly expressed support for Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old footballer they trained between 2018 and 2025, who is in a state of brain death after drowning in the Rhône River near Lyon on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred in a prohibited swimming area during a heatwave with temperatures reaching 38°C. Firefighters rescued three other young men from the water, but Kies was drowning upon their arrival. Currently under contract with En Avant de Guingamp, Kies also previously played for Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Priest in youth categories. The club's message on X stated, 'Kenzo, the entire Green Nation is thinking of you.'
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuLigue 2: Young Guingamp Player Kenzo Kies in Brain Death After Drowning Near Lyon
Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old forward from En Avant Guingamp's youth academy, is in a state of brain death after drowning in the Rhône River on Monday, June 22, 2026. The incident occurred around 5:30 PM in a swimming-restricted area near Parc de la Feyssine between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire. Kies was swimming with two friends, who were revived, but the footballer could not be saved. Born in Lyon on January 20, 2005, Kies began his career at AS Bron, then played for FC Lyon, Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint-Priest, and AS Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp in summer 2025. He played four matches with the reserve team in National 3, scoring one goal, and was called up to train with the senior squad by coach Sylvain Ripoll in September-October 2025 before an injury. He had left the club in April 2026. An investigation has been opened by the Lyon prosecutor's office. His former coach described it as 'a real shock' and noted psychological support will be provided.
Home Football - actualitésKenzo Kies, 21-Year-Old Former Guingamp Reserve Player, in Brain Death After Drowning
Footballer Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old former player for the reserve team of En Avant Guingamp, is in a state of brain death after drowning in the Rhône River on Monday evening. The incident occurred at Parc de la Feyssine between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire in the Lyon metropolitan area. Kies was swimming with two friends when they got into difficulty; the other two were resuscitated, but Kies's condition is considered hopeless. Trained at AS Saint-Étienne after coming through the Olympique Lyonnais system, he had joined Guingamp last summer, playing four National 3 matches and training with the first team before an injury halted his progress. He chose not to continue at Guingamp despite a contract offer. The Lyon public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the causes of the brain death.
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