Issam was never very comfortable in the water, according to the one who shared his life.
But he could have braved any element to come to the aid of someone, even if it meant putting himself in danger.
And this is what happened to this inhabitant of Vitry-sur-Seine, Friday, May 21.
Issam was 39 years old;
he drowned while trying to rescue a man on a beach in Cap d'Agde (Hérault).
Rapper Mokobé, figure of Vitry, relayed the news by paying tribute to this "hero", "with extraordinary courage", who had just arrived in this seaside resort with his wife and their two young children.
It was off the beach of Roquille, in Cap d'Agde (Hérault), that Issam jumped into the water.
GoogleStreetView
The holidays started on May 12 for this family from the Port-à-l'Anglais district.
On the morning of May 21, Issam wrote to his band of friends at the Vitry football club to tell them that he was taking advantage of the south of France.
“A few hours later, his wife told us the news.
We're all devastated.
It's a total shock, ”says Jonathan from Export, president of the ultramarine sports association (ASUM) in Vitry.
Carried away by a "sea blow", a dangerous current
That afternoon, Issam was passing through the Roquille beach in Cap d'Agde. The coast was hit by a "sea strike", a swell phenomenon feared by the emergency services because of the risk of drowning that it regularly generates, in a Mediterranean Sea that is not necessarily associated with danger. And yet. "It is a current that you cannot see with the naked eye and which pulls you out to sea", describes Jérôme Bonnafoux, lieutenant-colonel of the firefighters of Sdis 34 and elected in Agde.
In the water is then a man described as old, in great difficulty.
And in front of him, on the beach, his friend as well as a group of people who try to guide him towards the sand, as best they can.
In the distance, Issam understands what is happening and enters the water, immediately followed by Maud, his companion.
And this despite not being a seasoned swimmer.
“I swim better than him but Issam is like that, whole.
He rushes when he sees someone in distress and he could stop for anyone by the side of the road, ”she said on Tuesday.
It had been five years since this Vitriot was licensed within the ultra-marine sports association.
ASUM Vitry
The elderly man manages to get back to the beach on his own, but Issam finds himself in distress.
“A sea strike is the same principle as the baïnes in the Atlantic, details the lieutenant-colonel of Sdis 34. These are currents that suck you in.
Wanting to help, he exhausted himself.
"
“It was a real battle to try to get out,” confirms Maud.
A young man who was on the beach manages to help the couple, brings Issam back and takes care of first aid.
But the firefighters fail to revive the father and must pronounce his death.
"Issam had a heart of gold", tell his relatives
If this upsets those close to him, his circumstances, however, do not surprise them.
"This gesture does not surprise me at all about him, he had a heart of gold," explains Jonathan from Export.
When a person dies we always say he was a good person.
There, it was really the case ”.
Himself a firefighter, he is at the origin of an online kitty on the Leetchi platform for the family of Issam, who had this Tuesday raised more than 4,500 euros.
For five years, Issam played football within the ultra-marine sports association.
“He was such a nice man,” explains Jonathan from Export.
He spoke to everyone, so everyone knew him.
"
This is confirmed by the many tributes paid on social networks, including those of many inhabitants of Vitry, "which is a real working-class district, where everyone knows each other," said Jonathan from Export.
The publication of rapper Mokobé had provoked this Tuesday afternoon more than 8,000 comments ...
Issam 39 years old drowned this Friday in Cap d'Agde while trying to help an elderly person, he leaves us after thirty minutes of resuscitation.
Issam from Vitry-sur-Seine was with his wife and two children rest in peace my brother 🙏🏾💔 pic.twitter.com/zQ4hNOjLLk
- #Africaisthefuture (@ Mokobe113) May 23, 2021
“Surprisingly, he thought he was pretty lonely, but he's a very sociable and positive person with a lot of values,” says Maud, who continues to use the present tense about him.
Also a boxer, Issam had "realized his dream" by becoming a heavyweight driver.
He leaves Fathi and Souad, two children aged 2 and 6, fruits of his love affair with Maud, whom he met in Nantes almost fifteen years ago.
“We are very proud of him with the children,” she adds.
All our life we will try to live up to his act.
We have infinite love for him.
"