Deadly bad weather in the Gard: in Gagnières, the village in shock the day after the death of one of its inhabitants

Les marins-pompiers de Marseille sont intervenus autour de la voiture emportée par les eaux, retrouvée 300m en aval. Midi Libre – Fabrice Andrès

Ce dimanche 10 mars, les secours ont retrouvé le corps de cet habitant de Gagnières, un homme de 68 ans d'origine belge, dont la voiture avait été emportée par les eaux en franchissant un pont submersible.

"The entire population is very affected, young people as well as the elderly. This had never happened to us." In the aftermath of the tragedy which affected the village, Olivier Martin, mayor of Gagnières, his voice is still marked by the' #39;emotion this Sunday, March 11. 

On the evening of Saturday March 9, a 68-year-old man of Belgian origin, known in the village because he had lived here for more than a decade, died, swept away by the waters in his car as he crossed one of the town's submersible bridges. His body was found the next day, Sunday March 10, after a difficult search carried out by firefighters and the police. His son-in-law, aged 42, was able to get out of the car at the time of the accident. Very marked, he left, with part of the family, towards Belgium.

Gratitude to the country guard

The mayor also has a special thought for one of his field guards, a direct witness to the accident. The man remains "very marked" by the scene and by regret. "He went back to work this morning, it makes him feel good", points out the mayor, who continues: < em>"He went beyond what he could do, he had to avoid another accident." L& #39;man should benefit from support, but already receives unfailing support from his elected official: "I say it and I underline it , never in my life will I criticize him."

Regarding the victim, "his family should return soon", indicates Olivier Martin. The mayor is subsequently considering organizing a moment of reflection for his constituents. "We first let the time of mourning and emotion pass."

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