A totally unexpected visit that brings smiles back after heart surgery. This is the experience lived this Monday by Jean-Pierre, a young licensee (15 years old) from CS Brétigny, when he saw the coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps, enter his hospital room. Player in the Essonne club, Jean-Pierre took part on January 8 in a friendly match between his U16 team and that of Yerres-Crosne. During the match, he suffered a heart attack.
Among the handful of spectators present, an 18-year-old firefighter gave him first aid while waiting for help to arrive. A gesture that undoubtedly saved the life of the minot. After his admission to Necker Hospital, Jean-Pierre underwent successful surgery. “The good news is that his father has just told me that he is now out of danger”, launches Sébastien Michel, the development manager of the Essonne club.
The leader then tells the bottom of this photo posted this Wednesday on the Twitter account of CS Brétigny. “I spoke yesterday (Tuesday) with JP, as I do every day, to hear from him, he said. He replies I feel good and then sends me a photo of him with Didier Deschamps. I then say to him: oh great! Do you allow me to broadcast it on the club’s social networks to reassure everyone because I receive many messages from teammates, educators and also from Essonne football? He accepted. “Before continuing:” We would like to thank the firefighter Antoine without whom JP would no longer be there and the club of Yerres who received news very regularly. »
This Monday, the coach of the Blues visited the young people hospitalized at the Necker hospital, an establishment he visits regularly as part of the Yellow Pieces operation, of which he is the sponsor for the fifth consecutive year. It was therefore on this occasion that the 2018 world champion technician, finalist of the last World Cup in Qatar and recently extended until 2026, met JP.
“I don’t know yet if he will be able to resume football”
“It’s a cause to which I am very sensitive, explained Deschamps last year. If my notoriety can help the association, that’s good. I think it gives me more pleasure to go and see these children than it gives them to see me. They always have the banana and an incredible joie de vivre when they are in very difficult situations. It makes you feel less like complaining for a yes or a no. »
In Brétigny, the good news reassured the whole club known for its training policy with a hundred players who have turned professional like Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller. “We had the pain of losing a young person in a leisure base 4 years ago, recalls Bakary Koïté, former captain of the pennant team (N3) and now assistant coach. I have experienced an emotional lift these last few days. When I learned that he was better, I had a relief as if it were my son. We are a family club, close to the players. I don’t know yet if he will be able to resume football but we all wish him a lot of happiness. »