the “revenge” of the RC Labourse coach, declared dead seven minutes last year after a stroke

Victim of a stroke in June 2023, the coach of this district club wants to extend his team's incredible epic in the Coupe de France after reaching the 7th round against Bobigny, this Sunday, November 17.

Declared dead for seven minutes last year, David Deville is now preparing to coach his club RC Labourse in a 7th round of the Coupe de France against FC 93 Bobigny-Bagnolet-Gagny, this Sunday, November 17 at the Camille stadium -Weaver from Noeux-les-Mines (2 p.m.).

17 months ago, this ex-player suffered a stroke during a warm-up just before a meeting between Mazingarbe, where he was then a coach, and former RC Lens players.

“I was born on September 17 but a second life began on June 17, 2023,” explains the Northerner to BFM Grand Lille.

Thanks to a cardiac massage lasting around twenty minutes, a firefighter managed to save him. Six days of coma followed.

“Like an injustice”

“I felt it as an injustice because I have never drunk a drop of alcohol and never smoked a cigarette,” he laments. “At any moment my heart could give out, 35% of the cardiac capacity is dead.”

Despite this incident, David Deville did not give up. Only a month of rehabilitation later, he returned home in a wheelchair. Last August, he even took the position of coach of RC Labourse, a modest Departmental 1 team (the ninth level of French football).

“Sport allows me to escape and not think about anything. I try to convey to my players my desire to get out of this cardiac arrest and show them that life can have good surprises in store,” he assures. he.

“It’s revenge for me, it’s revenge for the people who had forgotten me because we are quickly forgotten, whether in the world of sport or by our friends,” he told the media Horizon News.

Precisely under his orders, the club managed to overcome all obstacles at the regional level in the Coupe de France, to reach the 7th round this season. A real feat and a great revenge for David Deville, while only three district teams are still involved in the whole country.

“It’s an example to keep, lots of things can happen to us but you have to hold on to your dreams,” says one of his players, admiring the technician’s motivating journey.