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It was an accident that marked the spirits: that of the balcony which collapsed on October 15, 2016 in Angers (Maine et Loire) while the tenants of the apartment were throwing a party. Four people died in the accident. The builders’ trial will begin on Wednesday, February 9.
For the first time, the group of friends who lived through the balcony collapse agree to speak in front of the cameras. On the night of October 15, 2016 in Angers (Maine et Loire), a housewarming party turned tragic. Cécile was present, chatting with a friend on the balcony. “I remember, he said to me ‘it’s weird, he’s moving the balcony’ (…) and all of a sudden, we’re talking, and then we hear a kind of dull noise, and he collapses”, says the young woman. “I had a slab on my back and gravel on my head. I stayed an hour under the slabs”, explains Baptiste, another survivor of the incident.
The balance sheet is heavy. Four of their friends, aged 18 to 25, lost their lives after falling three stories, or eight meters high. Five people are sent back to justice, from the architect to the foreman. They blame themselves for the accident, which is unbearable for the families of the victims. However, the investigation reveals many defects in the construction of the balcony. They are finally awaiting a conviction after five years of waiting. The trial is due to start on Wednesday, February 9.