Medhi Narjissi, a 17-year-old French rugby player, disappeared off the coast of South Africa on August 7
He was swept away by strong currents while taking part in a recovery session on a beach during a trip with the French U18 team.
His parents expressed their distress on the TF1 news.
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This is the first time they have spoken in front of a camera. Valérie and Jalil Narjissi expressed, in front of the TF1 news camera, this Tuesday, August 27, their pain after the disappearance of their son Medhi, on August 7. The 17-year-old French rugby player, traveling in South Africa with the French U18 team, was swept away by strong currents while he was taking part in a recovery session on a beach.
“We don’t live, we survive”says the young man’s mother. “There are no words. It’s horrible. Our son left for what he loved most. Today, we have nothing left.”the father continues.
We entrust our child to them, he does not come back. It is because there has been a mistake.
Valerie Narjissi
The athlete’s family contacted the Agen public prosecutor’s office on August 21 with a view to obtaining the opening of proceedings to “investigate the causes of the disappearance”, according to their lawyer.
The Stade Toulousain player, trained in Agen and aged 17, was swept away by strong currents while he was taking part in a recovery session on Dias Beach, near the Cape of Good Hope. A teammate who tried in vain to rescue him was able to return to shore unharmed, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
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How did the supervisors not realize the danger on this beach, known to be dangerous? Was a mistake made? Medhi Narjissi’s parents are convinced of it. “We entrusted our child to them, he didn’t come back. It’s because there was a mistake. And then the conditions, what we saw, I don’t even understand how this mistake could have happened.”the young man’s mother berates.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has also opened an internal investigation. It also announced on August 15 that the missions of the members of the French U18 team’s management team were temporarily suspended.
