The outcome was no longer in doubt, after three days of searching without the slightest sign of life: Amaury was found, this Saturday, January 13, 2024, in the Isigny canal, on the border between the Channel and Calvados. The 29-year-old hunter had called his girlfriend in the early hours of Thursday, January 11, to report that he had gotten lost and that he had "water up to his neck" in a marshy area of the Baie des Veys that he was leaving after a hunting trip. He had slept in the gabion, a hunting shelter. Initial searches led to the discovery of his rifle and backpack. Eventually, his body was spotted at the mouth of the canal, recovered by boat rescuers.
The director of the Departmental Federation of Hunters of the Channel is familiar with the area. David Guérin believes that "there was no imprudence, but a succession of unfortunate things. It can quickly turn into a tragedy, and that's what happened. The Baie des Veys, an estuary where three rivers converge, is a gigantic wetland, punctuated by the tides. Sumptuous landscapes, in the middle of nature, which conceal dangers for those who get lost or misunderstand. Amaury, originally from Saint-Fromond in the Manche region, was a seasoned hunter who came to hunt with friends. It was a first in this gabion but he knew the bay and the marshes.
A dark, moonless night
The victim left the site alone in the early hours of Thursday morning to go to work. She then went in the wrong direction and got lost. David Guérin describes the setting: "It was pitch black, without a moon. It is a maritime environment, a natural area with very little development. The edge of the canals is like quicksand. In my opinion, it has silted up. »
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The public prosecutor's office in Coutances spoke of a possible "fall into a water hole". The director of the Hunting Federation blames "ditches, full at high tide, empty at low tide, where the sea brings mud. You can get stuck, especially with panic." However, the sea was rising at the time the hunter got lost, with a high coefficient and freezing temperatures.
While hearings are taking place to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance, Amaury's relatives want to raise awareness of the dangers of the bay. On Friday, his partner warned volunteers not to put themselves in danger during the search. "There are also fishermen, photographers, hikers, families who want to see the seals up close. You can't be alone, especially when you don't know," insists David Guérin. The trap closed on a warned.
Amaury will be laid to rest on Saturday, January 20. The next day, the hunters will pay tribute to him in the Baie des Veys.