Kenzo Kies (Image via Getty)A 21-year-old soccer player has died after jumping into the Rhône River to cool off as France faced an intense heatwave. Kenzo Kies was swimming with three friends in Lyon on June 22 when the incident happened. While his friends were rescued, Kies was pulled from the river in critical condition. He was later declared brain dead and died in hospital, according to the BBC, citing French outlet L’Equipe. At the time, temperatures had climbed to around 104 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of France.How Kenzo Kies drowned in the Rhône River during France’s heatwaveAccording to the BBC, emergency crews reached the area near Parc de la Feyssine at around 5:30 p.m. local time after receiving reports that four people were in trouble in the river. Kies’ three friends were rescued, but he was found last. Despite being taken to hospital, doctors could not save him.French outlet BFM RMC Sport reported that swimming in the Rhône River is banned in that area because of the dangerous conditions.Kies was part of French club En Avant Guingamp, where he played for the reserve team. Before joining the club last summer, he spent several years developing through the youth academies of Lyon and Saint-Étienne.Following his death, En Avant Guingamp shared a heartfelt message on X. The club said, “En Avant Guingamp has had the sorrow of learning of the death of Kenzo Kies, a young player with the Club. A Guingamp native since last summer, he was playing this season with the reserve team. En Avant Guingamp extends its most sincere condolences to Kenzo Kies’s family as well as to all his loved ones, and offers them its full support during this painful ordeal.”Kenzo Kies remembered as France reports more heatwave-related drowningsSaint-Étienne, where Kies spent seven years as a youth player, also paid tribute on X on June 24. The club wrote, “The Green Generation is in mourning. A resident of the Robert-Herbin Sports Center for seven years, a talented player and discreet young man appreciated by all, Kenzo Kies has lost his life in dramatic circumstances.AS Saint-Étienne extends its most sincere condolences to his loved ones as well as to those, teammates and coaches alike, who shared a piece of his Stéphanois journey. Kenzo, in the corridors of L’Étrat, no one will ever forget you.”The tragedy came as France continued to deal with dangerous summer temperatures. According to the BBC, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 40 people have drowned since June 18 in incidents linked to the heatwave, with most of the victims being young people. French outlet Libération reported his comments.Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari also warned people against entering unsafe waters during the extreme weather. Speaking to French radio, she said, “It’s not something to be taken lightly, going swimming in unsupervised areas during a heatwave.”