PARIS, June 25 (Bernama-dpa) — French footballer Kenzo Kies of second-division club Guingamp has died at the age of 21 after drowning in the Rhône River, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Guingamp and his previous club Saint-Etienne paid tribute to him in posts on X late Wednesday.
News reports said Kies went swimming with friends amid the heat wave gripping France on Monday at a spot considered dangerous and where swimming was prohibited.
They said three people were rescued by the fire brigade, while Kies was found in a critical condition and later died.
There has been a number of fatal swimming accidents lately in France as temperatures have soared well over 40 degrees Celsius in many areas.
Kies joined Guingamp last year and played for their reserve team after spending seven years at Saint-Etienne.
— BERNAMA-dpa