A prominent French Philosopher drowns trying to rescue children near St Tropez

A prominent French philosopher, psychoanalyst and newspaper columnist best known for her work on risk-taking has drowned after she swam out to try and save two children who were in trouble in the sea at a beach near Saint-Tropez.

 

Anne Dufourmantelle was apparently swept away by a strong current at the weekend when she intervened to help the children at Pampelonne beach on the French Riviera. Attempts to resuscitate her failed after she was recovered.

 

The children, one of whom was believed to be the ten-year-old son of a friend of Ms Dufourmantelle, were brought by lifeguards to safety and were unharmed.

 

Anne Dufourmantelle went to the aid of two children struggling at sea  - Universal News And Sport (Europe)

 

The red flag, which signals danger and means people should not swim, was flying at the beach at the time of the rescue attempt, according to local media reports which said that strong winds made conditions worsen.

 

French Culture Minister Françoise Nyssen paid tribute to Ms Dufourmantelle in a tweet, saying the 53-year-old was “a great philosopher, a psychoanalyst, she helped us to live, to think about today’s world.”