Among the twenty-four adventurers of Koh-Lanta, The Cursed Totem is located François, 38-year-old firefighter. He is presented in his portrait on TF1 as a sportsman with a big heart. His profile has already thrilled viewers! But, even before the broadcast of the first episode scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the adventurer finds himself in the midst of a controversy. Indeed, the chained duck revealed that he is indicted for manslaughter after the death of a fellow firefighter in a forest fire in Gabian, Hérault, in 2016. Other firefighters were injured that day. After François’s lawyer, it is the victims’ turn to speak via Luc Abratkiewicz, the lawyer for the family of the deceased and two of his affected comrades, in the columns of 20 minutes.
“The victims are shockedand feel, once again, despised by the SDIS [NDLR : Service d’incendie et de secours]he assures. They have been in a trial for a very long time, they are waiting for the end of the training, which is long, which is scheduled for the end of the year. During this time, we highlight one of the executives in a reality TV game. The presumption of innocence does not prevent us from respecting and showing dignity in the face of the victims.“
Statements confirmed by the victims themselves. Francis’ participation in Koh-Lanta, The Cursed Totem poses a real problem for them. “How the hierarchy [du SDIS, NDLR]knowing the facts, authorized that person” to shine in a television program, asks one of the injured in the Gabian fire. “I understand that it’s to defend the image of firefighters, but the least you can do is protect your agent, and tell him that this case is in progress, we’re not for that you participate, but once the case is judged, obviously, with pleasure, that we will encourage you“, continues the victim.
For its part, the SDIS of Hérault wishes to specify via a press release that “the indictment of the officer in this case comes under his former functions as head of the training department and does not constitute, pending the continuation of the legal proceedings, a fault on the part of the officer who remains presumed innocent“. The management of the fire brigade recalls that its agent “participated in this program on a personal basis and during his annual leave period using his time savings account, in the same way as any other agent who requests it to engage in sporting, cultural challenges or personal projects“. It should be remembered that ALP, a company that produces Koh Lantahad no knowledge of this indictment.