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"Vince still influences me": how Fred Fugen of the Soul Flyers overcame the death of his alter ego

2021-02-03T13:01:35.832Z


After the fatal accident of his "dear brother", the wingsuit specialist tells how he dealt with the disappearance of his accomplic


"I'm sorry, I'm a little out of step with the jet lag…" Fred Fugen, 41, looks good with his tanned complexion.

Returned the day before ten days of vacation in Guadeloupe, the member of Soul Flyers, specialist in wingsuit (winged suit flight), needed to recharge his batteries with his island friends, after the dramatic event that touched him there a little over two months.

On November 17, the Haut Savoyard lost Vince Reffet, his partner for twenty years, victim of a fatal accident during Jetman training in Dubai.

For the first time since the tragedy, he gives himself openly and with modesty on the period which followed, his life without his accomplice and alter ego - "He still influences me" he confesses - and his projects.

What did this trip to the West Indies bring you?

FRED FUGEN.

Much good.

With my wife, we went to see some very close friends in Saint-François.

I had wanted to since the accident and it was the right time.

We spent several days on a catamaran, kitesurfing, parachuting… We made a jump above the Pointe des Châteaux, as during Vince's 30th birthday, to pay tribute to him.

The sky was overcast except for the end of the island magically illuminated by the sun ...

Wasn't that the first tribute?

No.

The ceremony took place on November 28, in La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie), with families and some friends.

His ashes were scattered in this place he loved so much.

I remember that it was also very beautiful in the mountains that day.

What kind of relationship did you have with Vince?

He was my brother at heart, my best friend… Our relationship was complete, rare, and also very healthy by its complementarity.

We were able to know what the other was thinking without speaking to each other.

In twenty years, we haven't gone more than three weeks without seeing each other.

Even on vacation, we called each other every two days to give new ideas.

What have you been doing for the past two months?

I got it into my head to finish all the projects we had planned.

We talked a lot with Vince so I took a piece of paper and wrote down all our ideas.

The list was so important that I said to myself as I put down the pen: “Damn, there's work!

I was also in the middle of a move and in the boxes.

Some have told me that I could take a break for several months but that is not in my nature.

I had to stay busy.

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Have you thought about stopping everything?

No.

I quickly knew that I would fly again.

It was the day before the ash dispersal ceremony in La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie).

We left feeling together on a hike, and I jumped with three friends at Les Dents de Lanfon above Annecy, to the same spot where we had flown with Vince two months before his accident.

I put on his helmet, we got high.

Our families were waiting for us downstairs.

There were a lot of different emotions.

It's hard to put words ...

Where is your grief?

I started to work on it.

When Vince left, we all took a huge slap.

He had a tremendous amount of energy and I was feeding on that strength.

In case of depression, she helped me to keep the motivation to move forward.

In a way, Vince still influences me for certain decisions.

I also followed hypnosis and light therapy sessions which did me a lot of good.

There was a lot of solidarity after the tragedy.

How much has it helped you?

It warmed my heart.

The friends, the team, our partners, all responded.

I was also inundated with several hundred messages, all of them deeply respectful.

The first few weeks, I was completely overwhelmed and I didn't have time to answer everyone.

I am sorry for that.

LP / Olivier Corsan  

Have you changed personally?

Let's say I see some things differently.

We have the chance to live from our passion.

It's human to have projects, but you must not forget to take advantage of the simple moments, and also know how to disconnect.

I will make sure to apply it.

My discourse on death, however, has not changed.

You know, I grew up in skydiving.

The risks are there and our job is to do everything to limit them.

Do Soul Flyers still exist?

This is what I wish.

Our pair was unique.

SF is a state of mind that was there before us and that still exists.

My goal is to use what we have created and to enrich it.

And then it's not my trip to be alone, the team and the partners are always there.

OK, it will be different, there will be emotion each time, but we will continue to share beautiful moments in the air, in beautiful places.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-02-03

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