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French pay emotional farewell to ocean rescuers killed in storm
LES SABLES-D’OLONNE, France, June 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Thousands of people
packed a seafront promenade in western France on Monday to pay their respects
to three ocean rescue volunteers killed in a storm last week.
The three local men died after their lifeboat capsized while they were
coming to the assistance of a fisherman off the coast of Sables-d’Olonne,
starting point for the round-the-world Golden Globe yacht race.
Four other rescuers managed to swim to safety.
The body of the fisherman, a retiree who was shrimping to boost his
pension, has not been found.
President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday posthumously awarded the volunteers
the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest civilian honour.
The accident was the deadliest to hit the French ocean rescue service SNSM
in over 30 years and plunged the sea-faring community into mourning.
A huge crowd took part in a silent march on Monday to the beach where the
wrecked rescue boat was brought ashore. Many carried a single red or white
rose which they planted in the sand.
A large group of SNSM volunteers, wearing trademark luminous orange jackets
led the march and were applauded by residents for their service.
Sailors and fishermen were also out in force, with a flotilla of around 100
boats, backed by a naval vessel, firing flares and sounding their sirens.
Around 15,000 took part in the ceremony, according to local authorities.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1849 hrs