France is in shock following the tragic death of Franck Fourcade, 39, during a village game of pétanque. While bending to inspect the jack, Mr. Fourcade was struck on the head by another player’s heavy steel ball. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
Mr. Fourcade, who managed the promotions department at Tarbes-Lourdes airport, leaves behind his wife, Chantal, and their two children, Pauline and Bastien, who are said to be inconsolable.
Franck Delahaye, head of tourism in Lourdes, expressed his disbelief, saying, “I’m overwhelmed. I can’t believe this has happened. He was a friend. Why has a terrible accident like this happened to a wonderful guy?”
Witnesses described Mr. Fourcade as extremely fit with no medical problems. He had simply gotten too close to the jack during an intense moment in the game. The metal balls used in pétanque weigh just under 2lbs and can be very dangerous when thrown at high speeds.
Despite police being called to the scene, no arrests have been made, and no action has been taken against the other players involved.
Mr. Fourcade’s death has sent shockwaves through the pétanque community, a sport typically known for its relaxed and genteel nature. Recently, there has been a rise in “le hooliganism,” with players coming to blows over games, prompting some regions to temporarily ban club matches.
The French Pétanque Federation, overseeing 375,000 licensed players in France and 3,000 in England, has called the incident a terrible tragedy and assured that all aspects of the accident will be investigated. The Federation has also advised players to drink in moderation to avoid similar incidents.
The aim of pétanque is to throw metal balls as close as possible to the jack, or “cochannel.” This incident marks a tragic first in the sport, which is played by approximately 17 million people in France.
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