Ligue 2 player in critical condition after near-drowning in Rhône River

A young football player under contract with a Ligue 2 club is in critical condition after a near-drowning incident in the Rhône River near Lyon. The incident took place on Monday evening in a prohibited swimming area known for its strong currents and waves.

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He was pulled out in critical condition, before being taken to the hospital.

Firefighters responded shortly before 6:30 p.m. amid temperatures reaching 38°C (100.4°F) in Lyon. They found four young men swimming in the Rhône at the Parc de la Feyssine, a location between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire. Three of the men were able to exit the water with minor injuries, but the fourth, in his twenties, was found drowning.

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According to police sources, he is a football player under contract with a Ligue 2 club.

He was rescued in critical condition and transported to the hospital. Police sources confirmed his identity as a professional football player. The prosecutor's office has not yet released updates on his health status.

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Faced with extreme temperatures, with more than half of the country in red vigilance for heatwave, many French people feel the need to cool off, but the government calls for the utmost caution in the face of the risk of drowning.

The incident occurs as France experiences a severe heatwave, with over half the country under red heat alert. The government has urged extreme caution due to the increased risk of drowning. Marina Ferrari, the Minister of Sports and Youth, reported that approximately twenty drowning deaths have occurred since the beginning of the weekend.

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A 'twenty or so deaths' from drowning have been recorded 'since the beginning of the weekend,' announced Tuesday Marina Ferrari, Minister of Sports and Youth.