Elderly drownings reported in Hérault and Isère, France

A 78‑year‑old man died of drowning on Tuesday at the Heliopolis beach near Cap d’Agde in the Hérault department. Bystanders raised the alarm, and rescue teams from the local fire service and SMUR attempted resuscitation, but the man was declared dead on the spot. An autopsy has been ordered and the investigation is being handled by the Béziers prosecutor’s office.

On Sunday, a 68‑year‑old man who had gone swimming in the Monteynard‑Avignonnet lake near Treffort in the Isère department was found dead. His body was recovered by gendarmerie divers a few metres from the shore after a search that was halted at night. The swimming area was officially closed, and rescue services had been deployed during the incident.

Both incidents involved elderly swimmers, prompted immediate rescue efforts, and are under investigation by local authorities.