The little girl was able to be saved but her brother could not be revived. A 12-year-old boy drowned on Saturday late afternoon in the waters of the Rhône at Chasse-sur-Rhône. The siblings wanted to dip their feet in the water of the Rhône but would have been swept away by the current.
On the spot, the firefighters spotted the little victim who was in cardiopulmonary arrest. Her 6-year-old sister who had been rescued before firefighters arrived was taken to hospital. In a state of shock, their mother, originally from Givors, was also taken care of.
Whirlpools and a violent current
The place where the drama took place is known for its dangerousness and its currents. “Despite the prohibition signs, it is common for families or young people to meet there”, explains the mayor of the city, Christophe Bouvier, to France Bleu.
The accident took place at the level of the footbridge which goes from Chasse-sur-Rhône to Givors, where “the Rhône forms a bend and with the bridge, it causes whirlpools with a fairly violent current”, adds- he.