AS Saint-Étienne and En Avant Guingamp announce death of Kenzo Kies after Rhône drowning | OneFootball

AS Saint-Étienne and En Avant Guingamp said in statements on Wednesday that Kenzo Kies, 21, had died, two days after a drowning near Lyon.

The incident unfolded late on Monday 22 June at the Feyssine site in Villeurbanne, where he and two friends entered the Rhône despite a ban due to danger.

Swept by powerful whirlpools, the trio tried to reach the bank after a final dive. Two made it, Kies disappeared under the water.

He was recovered after nearly 50 minutes, resuscitated by emergency workers, then taken to hospital in a state of brain death.

Tributes on social media offered condolences to his family and friends, describing a talented, discreet young man appreciated by everyone.

Born in Lyon in 2005, Kies developed with several local clubs, notably Olympique Lyonnais, then spent seven years at AS Saint-Étienne’s academy in L’Étrat. A right winger, he signed his first professional contract with En Avant Guingamp in the summer of 2025.

Source: Le Progres