“I don’t want to die but…”

At 80 years old, Olivier de Kersauson spoke to the Journal du Dimanche on January 12. In a long interview, he spoke in particular without taboo of his relationship, not to the sea, but to death.

On November 21, Olivier de Kersauson published his memoirs in a book entitled Cherche Midi Before the memory fades. Some maritime remarks. A book retracing his career, which the navigator spoke of with The Sunday Journal on January 12. Evoking without filter several episodes of his life, the adventurer did not fail to also talk about his relationship with death. An astonishing report, which he justified by a life filled with emotions and memories.

Indeed, at 80 years old, Olivier de Kersauson declared to our colleagues: “I don’t want to die. But I don’t fear dying.” According to him, “that there’s no point in being afraid something you can’t do anything about. No one knows the day or the hour… Fear builds nothing.” All that remains is to connect with what makes life so sweet to enjoy it until the end. For him, it is about “our efforts, the trouble we go through.” And to conclude: “The wonder of man is in effort, not in fear! The rest is of no interest.” A great life lesson.

Olivier de Kersauson, his “duty to exist”

If these statements on life and death may seem surprising, they are reminiscent of other comments made by the navigator, recently treated for lung cancer. In the podcast Elodie’s worldhe thus told Élodie Suigo’s microphone that he had “a duty to exist” in relation to his ancestors, notably his grandfathers, who died young during the war of 14. Not dwelling on the consequences of his aging, in particular his memory loss, Olivier de Kersauson clings as much as he can. may wish to live to honor their memory. “We say to ourselves that we stole their lives and you have the chance to live this life in full, so you have a duty to exist.”

Article written in collaboration with 6Medias.