Kenzo Kies drowns in Rhône River amid European heatwave
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 25, 2026, 1:30 PM
Last updated Jun 25, 2026
21-year-old soccer player Kenzo Kies drowned in the Rhône River in Lyon, France, on June 22 while swimming with friends during an extreme heatwave that saw temperatures reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit. First responders rescued three of Kies's friends, but Kies was found later in critical condition and later declared brain dead. The incident highlights growing concerns over heatwave-related drownings, with French officials reporting 40 such cases in recent days. Tributes have poured in from his club En Avant Guingamp and former teams as they mourn the loss of the young player, who played in Ligue 2.
- •Kenzo Kies was swimming in the Rhône River when he drowned.
- •Temperatures reached up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit during the heatwave.
- •Three friends were rescued; Kies was later found and declared brain dead.
- •French officials reported 40 heatwave-related drownings since June 18.
- •Kies played for Ligue 2's En Avant Guingamp and trained with Lyon and Saint-Étienne.
- 1:30 PMYahoo Sports — Soccer Player, 21, Dies After Jumping into River to Cool Down During Record European Heatwave
"Kenzo Kies was swimming with three friends in the Rhône River in Lyon, France as temperatures reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit
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