Legionnaire since 2018, member of the Belarusian Olympic swimming team from which he was originally, Ouladzislau Chastakou, 24, had a promising career ahead of him in the Foreign Legion.
The young man, member of the 2e REI of Nîmes, died drowned in the lake of Bellegarde, in the Gard, this Thursday, during a training.
The tragedy occurred in the afternoon, said a statement from this elite body of the army.
In cardiac arrest, his body did not react to resuscitation attempts carried out on the spot by the emergency services.
The French army salutes "a legionary of great quality and an excellent comrade".
Ouladzislau Chastakou had notably participated in Operation Sentinel to secure French territory in the face of the terrorist threat on two occasions, in 2019 and 2021.
"Real qualities in the field of command"
Within the 4th foreign regiment, Ouladzislau Chastakou "quickly distinguished himself by his motivation and his very good results" and was very quickly "noticed for his human qualities", recalls the press release from the French army.
Raised to the rank of Legionnaire 1st Class on October 1, 2019, he became a corporal on January 1, 2021, after having demonstrated "real qualities in the field of command".
The news prompted the representatives of the elite body of the Foreign Legion to react.
"General Alain Lardet, commander of the Foreign Legion, offers his condolences to the family and brothers in arms of Ouladzislau Chastakou, of # 2REI, who died accidentally during training as part of operational preparation", tweeted the Foreign Legion.
General Alain Lardet, commander of the Foreign Legion, offers his condolences to the family and brothers in arms of Ouladzislau CHASTAKOU, of # 2REI, who died accidentally during training as part of operational preparation.
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- Foreign Legion (@LegionEtrangere) November 18, 2021
