Two French soldiers die in underwater training accident in Angers

Two French soldiers have died following an accident during a nighttime underwater training exercise in Angers, authorities said on May 5.

According to the prosecutor’s offic, the incident occurred overnight from May 4 to May 5 in the Maine River, Caliber.Az reports via French media. 

The victims, aged 24 and 30, were taking part in a military diving exercise. One was assigned to the 6th Engineer Regiment, while the other served in the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment based in Laudun.

The training began at approximately 11:00 p.m. local time. Around 2:00 a.m. local time, contact with both divers was lost, Angers prosecutor Éric Bouillard said.

Preliminary findings suggest the two soldiers may have become trapped in a cavity within a bridge pier spanning the river. Rescue teams later recovered both men from the water, but they were in cardiac arrest, and attempts to revive them were unsuccessful.

A military source indicated that the diving course had started in Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer with a marine phase before continuing in Angers for freshwater training.

By Sabina Mammadli