Kenzo Kiss: French footballer, 21, drowns during heat wave

French footballer Kenzo Keys drowned in the Rhone River.

Keys, 21, who played for Guingamp in Ligue 2, was in a critical condition when he was pulled from the water by firefighters on Monday and later died in hospital.

Keys and three friends waded into the river near Lyon to escape the sweltering French heat, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country this week.

All three were pulled to safety by emergency services but Kies was the last to be found

Forty people drowned Heatwave deaths in France As of last Thursday, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said earlier this week.

Keys was part of the youth set-up at Lyon and Saint-Etienne before joining Guingamp last year, where he was playing in the reserve team.

Guingamp paid tribute to Kies at X, writing: “Guingamp is saddened to learn of the death of Kenzo Kies, a young player at the club.”

The club said they would offer their “full support” to Keys’ family during this “painful ordeal”.

A statement from Saint-Etienne said: “The green generation is in mourning. A resident of the Robert-Harbin Sports Center for seven years, a talented player and intelligent young man admired by all, Kenzo Keys lost his life in dramatic circumstances.

“Saint-Étienne extends his deepest condolences to his loved ones as well as to those – teammates and coaches – who shared a part of his journey. Kenzo, in the corridors of L’Etret, no one will forget you.”

Saint-Etienne told BBC Sport that plans are underway to pay tribute to Kis at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium at the start of next season.