It was their "Juju". A 16-year-old girl passionate about dance and fashion. Who liked her long black hair and put on lipstick. She had just found her way: working in events as a wedding planner. Julie's life came to an abrupt end in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. Hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Necker Hospital (Paris 15th) during the day, the high school student in a professional bac at the Lycée Saint-Léon in Corbeil-Essonnes succumbed to a Covid-19 infection. She is the youngest patient in France to be swept away by this virus.
“We must stop believing that this only affects the elderly. No one is invincible against this mutant virus, sighs his older sister, Manon, reached by phone on Wednesday evening. Julie just had a slight cough last week. It got worse this weekend with mucus and on Monday we went to see a general practitioner. It was there that he was diagnosed with respiratory distress. Her lungs failed. The doctors did everything they could but waking her up would have been pointless. "
According to Manon, his sister "had no particular illnesses before that". This was confirmed to us by several of his relatives.
In her honor, this Friday, candles were lit at 8 p.m. on the windows and balconies of Morsang-sur-Orge (Essonne), the city where she lived. And where she took her first dance steps at the age of 4 in the association Amicale Laïque de Morsang-sur-Orge.
“It was a real rubber band. Our teacher kept saying to her: Pay attention to your knees. Don't forget that you have a spine, ” recalls Lilou, 17, who started with her. “She loved doing acrobatics. With the members of the association and our dance group, the Millepied (Editor's note: in tribute to the famous dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied) , we were a big family, ”she continues, bursting into tears.
The pretty brunette was also very close to her friends in rhythmic gymnastics and sports, a discipline she practiced for three years until 2017. Her teacher had kept in touch with her. His disappearance is a shock. "She was a dynamic girl, who couldn't stand still," Cindy describes. Even in serious moments, in full rehearsal, she found the time to make jokes. She made us laugh, sometimes at her expense. "Gaffeuse" is also how Lilou describes it. "She made us good ones," she laughs. But that was Julie. It was authentic. "
A strong character but also an artichoke heart
In recent months, the schoolgirl had distanced herself a bit from dance. At 16, she wanted to go out, to enjoy, without the restrictive training schedules on Friday evening and Saturday. But she had promised to come back next September. Julie is also described as a young girl “very flirtatious, who also liked accessories, putting on jewelry…”, underlines Margaux, Lilou's big sister, and member of the association.
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For her 16th birthday, she received a belt from a very large luxury brand. "I think it was the best gift she has received," said Lilou, who was present for this great moment. She burst into tears in her sister's arms. For three years, they had become fused. "
Even if arguments were not rare. Because Julie had her temper. And knew how to say it when she didn't agree. Be heard above all. "She always spoke very loud and did not like being told what was wrong, even if deep down she knew it was for her own good," assures Margaux. She was a colorful girl. With a strong character but also an artichoke heart. She easily cried in front of the movies. She loved watching them with Manon. "
Tributes planned in the coming months
If his funeral will take place in a very small committee, another moment of meditation is planned in his school. For the start of the school year, his comrades plan to organize a white and red march. "White for his good humor, red because it was his favorite color," says one of them. The dance gala of his association will also be dedicated to him. “With our choreographer, we are going to prepare a dance for him. It may be on Tom Walker's song, Leave a light on , she wanted to dance to it. And it is fraught with meaning. "
The Versailles academic management has set up a remote listening unit for the students and the entire educational community. "It will remain active as long as necessary," says the academy. Since the announcement of his disappearance, several pots have been put online to support his family. More than 5000 euros have already been collected.