On October 14, the Minister of Citizenship awarded the gold medal for an act of courage and dedication to Maud Fourny and Issam Benayad posthumously, reports Actu.fr. The latter, originally from Vitry-sur-Seine, died on May 21, saving an elderly person from drowning on a beach in Cap d’Agde. This man was on vacation with his wife and two children in the South of France. On May 21, the family arrived in Cap d’Agde. While trying to rescue an elderly person with his partner, Maud, on the beach of Roquille in Cap d’Agde (Hérault), Issam, pillar of the football section of the ultramarine sports association (Asum) of Vitry- sur-Seine, also a truck driver by profession, has died.
To read: Issam drowned as a hero while rescuing an elderly person in Cap d’Agde
“At the cost of considerable physical effort, you manage to take charge of this man in distress and then undertake the maneuver back to the beach, to put this boater to safety. Faced with this perilous rescue, a third person tries to join you to help you, after having taken care to rope up … But faced with the strong swell and the violence of the sea, the latter will be forced to give up ”, a recalled Marlène Schiappa. “Alerted by this rescue operation, the diving firefighters arrive and take over; they are worn with your spouse. Issam is in cardio respiratory arrest and despite the care provided, he will succumb to the consequences of this drowning, ”she continued.
According to the minister, Issam had taken a decision which was not only that of sacrifice, but first of all that of fidelity to oneself, of fidelity to one’s values. “He died a hero and it is our duty today to pay tribute to him,” she added.
–
