Tuesday November 26, 2024, two garbage collectors from the Pays de Montbéliard saved an 11-year-old young man from drowning, in Hérimoncourt (Doubs). The teenager fell into a river while riding his bike. He had been hanging on a branch for 10 minutes and was struggling against the current.
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A small miracle, brought about by heroic acts. Tuesday November 26, 2024, a young man escaped drowning in Hérimoncourt (Doubs), thanks to the bravery of two garbage collectors from the Pays de Montbéliard. Around 8:50 a.m., the 11-year-old teenager was cycling in a park near the Quatre-Terres college, where he goes to school, rue Robinson.
“According to the firefighters and the first testimonies collected, the teenager took a friend's bike, who shouted to him “be careful, the brakes are malfunctioning” “explains the mayor of the town, Marie-France Bottarlini-Caputo, to France 3 Franche-Comté. Indeed, the victim was unable to control his two-wheeler, which ended up in the Le Gland river which borders the park and the college. ““He was really unlucky at first, because access to the water is normally blocked by trees.”
These trees, in fact, are initially what saved the teenager. “Usually this river is very calm“continues the mayor.”But with the snow melting, the flow had been impressive for several days. We went from 0.7 m³ per second to 6.9 m³ per second“.
The watercourse was deep, with a very violent current. Fortunately, he managed to hang on to a branch for about ten minutes.
Marie-France Bottarlini-Caputo,mayor of Hérimoncourt
Luckily, the PMA garbage collectors then arrived at the scene of the fall and heard the victim. After notifying the emergency services, two of them, Christophe and Grégory, decided despite the current to dive into the water to rescue the victim. What they managed to do brilliantly, since the teenager was brought back to the shore, safe and sound, before the arrival of help, while the firefighters had already hired large numbers of personnel, including a team of divers.
“Their courage avoided a real tragedy” assures Marie-France Bottarlini-Caputo. “A dam was open a little further down the river. If he had finally let go of the branch because of the current or the freezing water temperature, it was over.“. Proof of these extreme conditions, the victim, in hypothermia, was immediately taken to the Trévenans hospital. Fortunately, he was able to leave at the beginning of the afternoon. His ice bag and the bicycle, taken away by the waves, have still not been found.
More fear than harm therefore. However, the city wishes to honor the two heroes of the day. “Of course, we would like to make a gesture to thank them” assures the first elected representative of Hérimoncourt. “I am already in contact with the management of Pays de Montbéliard services, we have identified the rippers and we are going to reward them“. A fair and beautiful spotlight for these everyday heroes.
