This kind of moment reminds us just how secondary sport is. On Sunday, Laurent Gilbert, coach of the RC Bon-Encontre-Boé side (Fédérale 3), suffered a cardiac arrest shortly before half-time.

Two people were quickly able to step in and resuscitated him before the emergency services arrived. A relief. But above all a shock. Away at Pont-du-Casse, RCBB were not expecting to live through such an ordeal.

Laurent Gilbert was nevertheless taken to a clinic in Agen, as reported by La Dépêche, who managed to reach the club president. He is reassured. “It was very difficult for us on Sunday, we were very frightened. But today we are relieved to know he is out of danger. He is in a stable condition and stents have been fitted. The actions of the two people who came to his aid showed remarkable composure. And without the defibrillator, he probably wouldn’t still be here,” recalls Alex Brandolin.

An association that saves lives

The two people who immediately came to his aid saved his life. On Facebook on Monday, Laurent Gilbert was keen to thank them. “I want to thank from the bottom of my heart, and that is putting it mildly, Amaury and Amandine from Pont-du-Casse for their quick thinking and their composure, which are the reason I am here in the light today. My family and I will never be grateful enough to you“.

It should be noted that the match resumed, as the players of the joint side agreed to go back out. Ahead on the scoreboard before this sad event (8-16), they then let the game slip away (36-16). Their minds were elsewhere.

It is also a chance to shine a light on the association “Au coeur des jumeaux”, set up in the Landes at the initiative of the Campistron brothers. Both suffer from Brugada syndrome, a rare heart condition.

The Soustons-based association has been raising funds since 2011 to pay for defibrillators, which it then installs in sports venues. An excellent initiative that has saved lives but that deserves to be even more in the spotlight.