Guingamp midfielder Kenzo Kies has died aged 21 after drowning in the Rhone river near Lyon during France's extreme heatwave. The former Lyon and Saint-Etienne youth player was pulled from the water by firefighters on Monday but succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Kies had entered the river with three friends to escape temperatures reaching 40C.

Emergency services rescued three people from the river, but Kies was the last to be located. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that 40 people have drowned in heatwave-related incidents across France since last Thursday. The tragedy occurred as record-breaking temperatures gripped the country, prompting widespread warnings about water safety.

Guingamp paid tribute to Kies on social media, describing the loss as a sorrow for the club and offering full support to his family during this painful ordeal. Saint-Etienne also honored their former youth player, calling him a talented and discreet young man appreciated by all. Both clubs remembered Kies through heartfelt statements.

Saint-Etienne confirmed plans for a tribute at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium when the new season begins. The football community has lost a promising young talent whose career spanned the youth academies of multiple Ligue 1 clubs before his move to Guingamp's reserve setup.