TESTIMONY. “It could have happened differently”, the dismay of those close to Jean-Claude Jophe, 53, who died in the middle of a blackout in Guadeloupe

Those close to Jean-Claude Jophe are devastated, their eyes clouded, still in shock. If they agree to testify this Sunday, November 3, it is so that “never happen again”.
On Saturday October 26, Jean-Claude Jophe, 53, died of asphyxiation, in the middle of a blackout, in his apartment at the Lauriers residence, in Pointe-à-Pitre, in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe is experiencing, on the night of Friday October 25 to Saturday October 26, an unprecedented situation: the archipelago is plunged into darkness, hit by a widespread power cut. At issue: the shutdown of the engines of the EDF PEI thermal power station at Pointe Jarry.

When around midnight on Friday October 25, Jean-Claude Jophe entered the 3rd floor apartment that he shares with his mother and daughter, it had already been several hours since there had been any electricity in his residence. It is impossible for him to operate the fan, purchased just a few days ago. Faced with this overwhelming heat, we must open the windows “so that the air can pass”lie down and wait.

However, in the evening, abuses were committed not far from the Jophes' home. At the foot of the building, individuals set fire to trash cans and cars parked in the parking lot. The thick black smoke emanating from these charred vehicles spreads into the home.

In the early morning of Saturday October 26, Jean-Claude Jophe, who has been asthmatic for years, woke up with a start. The man has a severe asthma attack and has great difficulty breathing. He calls his daughter, Ymane, to help, who brings him his medicine, his Ventolin notably.

“He died on the ground”, Marie Jophe, one of the sisters of Jean-Claude Jophe, who died the night of the blackout, in Guadeloupe

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©Fabrice Fanfant and Ludovic Gaydu – Guadeloupe La 1ère

For many minutes, the young woman tried to contact emergency services. She dials 112, 18, 15, to no avail. Because, since the blackout, the state of the telephone network has also been largely degraded.
“We couldn’t reach help, we tried every way possible” deplores today Christelle Jophe, Jean-Claude's niece.

Jean-Claude collapsed. His daughter, Ymane, gives him a cardiac massage. Thirty minutes later, she finally manages to contact the Samu. At the end of the line, the operator accompanies him in his first aid procedures. “The emergency services finally arrived, they took over, they continued to do the cardiac massage with the defibrillator”continues Christelle Jophe, who takes up the story that Ymane told her.

I came from Capesterre, I took the road to the CHU, they told me no, no, it's too late. Despite the Ventolin and cardiac massage, it was too late.

Christelle Jophe, niece of Jean-Claude Jophe

“As soon as they entered the apartment, the emergency services asked Ymane why there was so much smoke. But it was dark, she couldn't see, she didn't even realize that there was had so much smoke in the apartment”explains Christelle again.

Jean-Claude Jophe, 53, died of asphyxiation at home, the victim of a severe asthma attack. When help arrived, it was already too late, his heart had given way.

“He was someone very popular, the whole city knows him”says Fabienne, one of Jean-Claude's sisters. He was his “watch JC” : “He was my chaperone, if he didn’t go out, I didn’t go out”she continues.

What bothers me most is that he was the one who took care of his daughter, I fear for her. When you hear him tell you why daddy abandoned me, it's hard.

Fabienne Jophe, sister of Jean-Claude

Aurélie Jophe, 22 years old, one of Jean-Claude Jophe's nieces, is collapsed

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©Fabrice Fanfant and Ludovic Gaydu – Guadeloupe La 1ère

“He is gone, he will never come back” whispers Marie, Jean-Claude's older sister.
Those close to him cannot help but ask themselves this question: could this tragedy have been avoided?

“There is still a little angerreveals Fabienne Jophe, People need to know what they are doing because impacting so many people, not thinking and thinking about the consequences of your actions, that’s not normal.”

“24 hours without electricity, it’s inconceivable”, the cry from the heart of Christelle Jophe, one of Jean-Claude’s nieces

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©Fabrice Fanfant and Ludovic Gaydu – Guadeloupe La 1ère

For the moment, Jean-Claude Jophe's family does not wish to file a complaint.