Many tributes for Yoni, who died in an accident near Châteaubriant

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Thursday November 28, 20242:30 p.m. The firefighters intervened following a traffic accident occurred at Saint-Vincent-des-Landes (Loire-Atlantique), on the Departmental 771 linking Châteaubriant to Nozay (Loire-Atlantique), at a place called La Griolais. Two light vehicles collided. In one of the cars was Yoni Astolfi. The man, aged 23, lost his life. The editorial staff met several of his relatives, who paid him a poignant tribute.

They pay tribute to Yoni Astolfi, who died suddenly

“I had known him for five years. He joined our club to discover fist-foot boxing,” recalls the vice-president and trainer.

de la Team Hespel, Laurent Hespel, founder of a sports club combat in Rougé (Loire-Atlantique).

“When he started, our fighter was 17 years old. He came from Soudan (Loire-Atlantique), his place of residence at the time, in electric scooter.

And sometimes, our Spartan had to finish the journey on foot because his scooter no longer had any battery. Yoni recharged during training“, continues his coach, in his office, with tears in his eyes, showing with his hands a frame illustrating several photographs of the deceased, posing with his coach.

“Laurent, it was Yoni's second father They were both so close,” says Jonathan Astolfi, the victim’s father, whom we contacted.

A boxing and music enthusiast

The one who wrote rap songs, his second passion with combat sports, trained “always with a smile” assures Morgane, president of Team Hespel and daughter of Laurent Hespel.

With her father, the boxer, in memory of the deceased, organized a releasing lanterns with all the members of the Team Hespel club, four days after the accident.

The Castelbriantais Boxing Club, a sports association in which Yoni Astolfi was licensed, also paid tribute to him with a minute of silence during training on Thursday December 5, 2024.

Yoni, this brave fighter

Aggression, surpassing oneself and the desire to do well were the DNA of this seasoned athlete who had recorded twenty attacks since the start of his career.

Yoni was a very motivated boy, happy to be with us and respectful of everyone. He always paid attention to his comrades, whom he constantly put forward. A nice boy who could be counted on. We still had a lot of adventure to experience together. I was shocked at his disappearance. »

Semi-finalist of a semi-final of a French foot-to-fisted championship in La Rochelle, Yoni Astolfi was to compete in his first fight in English boxing. A confrontation initially planned for February 2025, in Montpellier (Hérault).

“He had progressed enormously since his debut. Yoni had a lot of ambitions” supports his boxing trainer, who learned the sad news twenty-four hours laterhe disappearance of the young man.

The meteoric rise of the former student of the Châteaubriant-Derval intercommunal conservatory for ten years was due, according to those close to him, “to unfailing courage. »

His former work colleagues are in shock

“On Sunday after his fights, Yoni went back to work. This is to show you the determination he had” insists Morgane. Within the club, the absence of Yoni Astolfi leaves “a big void”.

Same observation at the La Cappadoce restaurant located in Châteaubriant, place Victor Hugo. This is where this amateur rapper worked as a waiter.

“We experienced it in 2021, when Yoni worked for the Allez Hop delivery service. “It was for us that he made the most deliveries,” recounts with emotion the Uluyol family, owners of the restaurant La Cappadoce.

Allez Hop was bought a year later by the managers of the La Cappadoce restaurant. The latter recruited Yoni into their ranks.

“There was an immediate connection between us. Yoni was a very respectful person, invested in his work”.

The former resident of Soudan, who traveled up to ten kilometers round trip on foot to get to work before having a driving license, had the mission, noon and eveningmanagement of take-out orders. But also the promotion of the restaurant on social networks, table service and collections.

A close relationship with his father

“He was a great worker, mature person despite his young age. Yoni always had a smile…Life is unfair. He did not deserve such a fate,” expressed his boss, in tears, supported by one of her daughters and her son-in-law Hüseyin.

Yoni was not just a work colleague, but my best friend. I loved him like my brother. I spent more time with him than with my family. We talked about boxing, music… We did everything together.

The one who wanted to sell lasagna is still an integral part of the Cappadocia team, as evidenced by this photo frame hanging above a restaurant table.

“Yoni still has his electric bike and delivery equipment with us. We will miss him. We will always think of him and will always be in our hearts. »

“My son loved learning and growing. It was a very strong personwith a strong taste for effort and a very good big brother. I exude exceptional pride in him,” confides his father with a calm voice.

The editorial staff of L'Éclaireur de Châteaubriant sends its most sincere condolences to Yoni's loved ones.

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