French footballer Kenzo Kies has died at the age of 21 after drowning in the Rhone River. Kies, who played for Guingamp in Ligue 2, was pulled from the water by firefighters on Monday near Lyon and later died in hospital.
Kies and three friends entered the river to escape the intense heatwave affecting France, with temperatures reaching 40C (104F) in some parts of the country this week. Emergency services rescued three individuals, but Kies was the last to be found. Official figures indicate that 40 people have drowned in heatwave-related incidents in France since last Thursday.
Kies had a notable youth career, developing within the systems of Lyon and Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp last year. He was part of the club's reserve team.
Guingamp paid tribute to Kies on X, expressing sorrow over the loss of their young player and pledging full support to his family. Saint-Etienne, where Kies spent seven years in their youth academy, also issued a statement mourning the loss of the "talented player and discreet young man." The club indicated plans to honor Kies at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium at the beginning of the next season.