French footballer Kenzo Kies, 21, dies after drowning in Rhone river

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 25, 2026, 9:38 AM

Last updated Jun 25, 2026

French footballer Kenzo Kies, 21, dies after drowning in Rhone river

Summary

Kenzo Kies, a 21-year-old footballer for Guingamp, drowned in the Rhone river near Lyon. He had entered the river with friends to escape the heat, which reached 40C in parts of France. Firefighters rescued him from the water, but he later died in hospital. Guingamp and former clubs Lyon and Saint-Etienne expressed condolences and are planning tributes in his memory.

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Key Details

•Kenzo Kies drowned in the Rhone river while trying to escape the heat.
•He played for Guingamp in Ligue 2 and was previously at Lyon and Saint-Etienne.
•Three of Kies' friends were rescued; he was the last to be found.
•Guingamp plans to offer support to Kies' family during this time.
•Saint-Etienne intends to honor Kies with a tribute at the start of next season.

Latest Updates

1:26 PMYahoo Sports — French footballer drowns in Rhone River amid extreme heatwave
9:38 AMBBC Football — French footballer Kies, 21, dies after drowning in river

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