Honoring the Gard firefighters at the Pont du Gard

The Gard firefighters put in the spotlight this Monday evening. A ceremony at the Pitot space on the emblematic Pont du Gard site. Men and women distinguished for their courage and dedication. Outside, 4 weeks during the earthquake in Türkiye in February 2023 and here in March 2024 during a dramatic rain-storm event. We were in rain yellow but in raw orange on March 9 and 10. Accumulations observed of 100 to 150 mm in the plains and up to 300 mm in the Cévennes with dramatic consequences.

Rain from the wind and the Gardon at Dions (Gard) in strong flood. Around 11:30 p.m., the Dragon 34 helicopter took off from Nîmes, piloted by Rudy Romet. “Extreme conditions and intense frustrationwe had left to recover the family, we were only able to save the mother“.

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3 dead, a 40-year-old father and his two children aged 4 and 13

First Class Silver Medal for courage and dedication for the pilot as well as for Alexis Caesteker. On board the dragon 34, the winch diver who saved the mother, “I found it hanging on a branch – what do we say to her when we pick her up? – we don't have much time to talk, in her eyes I see that she is totally abandoned to you, that you just have to do the job“Firefighters who are the honor of the Republic and the pride of Martine and Roger, Alexis' parents.”He was off duty, we called him to go save this woman in the middle of a storm” confided to France Bleu Gard Lozère, martine. Roger, Alexis' dad, “we worry every day but we are proud to have a son like him“.

A rain of distinction

11 firefighters distinguished for their courage and their act of dedication to serving the population. 35 others with the Civil Security Medal for their service in February 2023. In extremely harsh weather conditions during the earthquake in Turkey, the rapid medical intervention civil security element and its field hospital took care of 2000 injured.

“You are the honor of the Republic”

Gagnières, Goudargues, Dions, the Cévennes, the Rhone Gard and the Nîmes plain. A common point, on the night of Saturday March 9 to Sunday March 10, the crossing of a submersible bridge 6 dead and two survivors. More than 200 firefighters, police and rescuers on the ground, no material damage, no flooded houses but a terrible human tragedy. even if here in the Gard we have esteemed the prefect Jérôme Bonnet we have the culture of floods. “I think we are a department or the majority with this culture but – concerning the crossing of submersible bridges – there are still too many senseless acts”.

Not to mention those who cross its bridges on foot to take photos, particularly of the Gardon in fury. Last March, a good ten were fined by the Gard gendarmes. The culture of risk is cultivated every day among the missing two children aged 4 and 13.

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