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This pure Cognaçais, aged 64, suffered a heart attack while he was on a bike ride with a group of friends near Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né. A tragedy which caused a shock wave in Cognac, where this former lifeguard spent his entire career. “All those who came into contact with him at the swimming pool are very touched,” confirms Réginald Galland, the director of the Grand Cognac swimming pools, who also speaks of “his deep kindness”. “He was even too nice for the job we do, he didn’t know how to say no. »
A life at the pool
It was on the benches of the Anatole-France school that Francis Bardaux met Christian Lys. “I was in his brother Gérard’s class, because I was a year older. But later, we played a lot together, especially ball on Saturdays. When he graduated as a lifeguard, I often went to see him at the pool. »
“He taught generations of Cognac people to swim. »
Head of the Cognac sports department and former lifeguard, Guy Pedarros also knew him well. “We worked together at the swimming pool for a long time, we trained at the Dauphins club and we did a lot of sports together, we went running, swimming and cycling. We were in harmony, with a beautiful atmosphere. When he started as a lifeguard, upon returning from the army, Claude François was in charge of the swimming pool. When he retired, Christian took over and became pool manager. We have always remained close. »
Also, “his sudden and unexpected death” deeply affected him. “I expected anything but that and I have a hard time realizing it, like everyone else I think. I have a strong thought for his partner, Fabienne [Zeman, directrice de l’école de danse qui porte son nom, NDLR] and his son Matis. »
“Like a family”
Like Guy Pedarros, his former lifeguard colleagues were shaken by his disappearance. “When I arrived at the Cognac swimming pool, in 1997, he was already pool manager. More than a chef, he was my mentor and a very good friend, says Sarah Dubuy, pool manager at X’Eau. We were a small, very united team, like a family. Christian was kindness personified, always available, with a lot of empathy, he always wanted to do the best for everyone. »
His colleague Laurence Lacour had known him for 35 years, “even before he was a lifeguard”. “Christian was a great athlete, he never stopped. » Basketball in high school, running at the CAC, swimming of course and especially cycling, his great passion. “When he retired, he went all out again, perhaps a little too much… He never did things by halves. »
Moreover, upon his retirement in 2020, he continued to freelance at X’Eau. “He made occasional replacements and one or two summer seasons to help out. He loved his job and young people,” observes Sarah Dubuy.
The date of Christian Lys’ funeral had not yet been set this Wednesday.
