Latest news with #Auffray
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
France: State responsible for jogger's toxic algae death
AI- Generated Image A civil court in Nantes ruled Tuesday that the French government bore partial responsibility for the 2016 death of Jean-Rene Auffray, a 50-year-old jogger who suffered rapid pulmonary oedema, which sees the lungs fill with liquid, after he inhaled high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide on a beach in western Brittany. In a statement, the court said that it "holds the state liable for negligence due to its failure to implement European and national regulations designed to protect waters from agricultural pollution," which is "the main cause of the proliferation of green algae in Brittany." "For the first time, a French court has recognized the link between a person's death and the state's negligence in these green algae cases," said the family's lawyer, Francois Lafforgue. Court overturns prior ruling in finding state liable Auffray's family sued the French government for his sudden death but lost its case in 2022 when the presiding judge ruled there had not been enough evidence to directly link it to algae rotting on the Gouessant estuary near the city of Saint-Brieuc. On Tuesday, the Nantes court ruled that the French state was 60% responsible for Auffray's death but also noted that he had put himself at risk by jogging in the area. Auffray's widow will receive €277,343 ($321,750), while each of his three children will receive €15,000, and his brother €9,000. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Brittany, the nation's pig farm Brittany is a veritable agricultural powerhouse within France and is responsible for producing much of the country's dairy (one-third), poultry (one-half) and pork (one-third). France has invested heavily in farming in the region for decades but that intensity and the excessive use of nitrate fertilizers combined with runoff from pig farms has led to massive algae bloom that chokes the coastal areas of the peninsula each year. Deadly concentrations of sulfides released from the rotting stuff regularly close beaches in the region and cost French taxpayers millions as tons of algae are trucked off each summer. France's top auditor reported in 2021 that an estimated 90% of Brittany's algae bloom could be traced back to farmers, who have significantly increased their use of nitrogen fertilizers since the 1960s.
Local France
17 hours ago
- Health
- Local France
Green algae found along French coastline responsible for jogger's death, rules court
The Nantes appeals court found France liable for the death of Jean-Rene Auffray, citing its "negligence" in enforcing environmental regulations to protect its waters and prevent toxic green algae ( algues vertes) blooms. For more than five decades, tons of green algae have washed up annually on Brittany's beaches in western France, releasing hydrogen sulphide gas as it rots - a toxin that can prove deadly in high concentrations. Auffray, a keen trail runner, died of sudden respiratory failure while jogging in the algae-choked Gouessant estuary near the city of Saint-Brieuc. His lifeless body had been found by his wife and daughters, in September 2016, on the beach at Hillion - 300 meters from the spot where 36 wild boar died in 2011, with their deaths being attributed to algae. Advertisement His family sued over his death, but in 2022 a court rejected the claim, ruling there was insufficient evidence to link the toxic algae to Auffray's death. Tuesday's decision reversed that ruling, marking the first time France has been held liable for the health risks posed by deadly green algae blooms along its coast. The court "holds the State liable for negligence due to its failure to implement European and national regulations designed to protect waters from agricultural pollution", which is "the main cause of the proliferation of green algae in Brittany", it explained in a statement. The court found Auffray's death was caused by a rapid pulmonary oedema -- a condition in which there is too much fluid in the lungs -- which could only be explained by fatal poisoning from inhaling hydrogen sulphide at very high concentrations. "For the first time, a French court has recognised the link between a person's death and the state's negligence in these green algae cases," said the family's lawyer, Francois Lafforgue. The deceased's family will receive partial compensation, as the court found the state 60 percent liable, noting that he had taken a personal risk by jogging in the estuary. The state has been ordered to pay €277,343 to the jogger's wife, €15,000 to each of his three children, and €9,000 to his brother. According to a 2021 report from France's top audit court, around 90 percent of Brittany's algae blooms are caused by agriculture, where the use of nitrogen fertilisers has increased significantly since the 1960s. Intensive farming — especially pig farming — and the resulting nitrate pollution have been linked to the spread of green algae in the western Cotes-d'Armor region. Advertisement It has been the subject of environmental campaigns while local authorities have displayed billboards warning of the potential risks from the algae, especially at low tide. A board reading "Caution, Danger Nearby - Rotting algae deposit" is pictured in Hillion, near Saint-Brieuc, northwestern France. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP) In 2019 an apparently fit and healthy 18-year-old oyster fisherman was found dead near algae in Morlaix Bay in Brittany, while in 2009, a 48-year-old man died after driving a van full of green algae.
DW
19 hours ago
- Health
- DW
France: State responsible for jogger's toxic algae death – DW – 06/24/2025
A court in Nantes found the French state bore partial responsibility for the 2016 death of Jean-Rene Auffray, who died of exposure to deadly toxins. The problem of toxic algae bloom stems from the region's farms. A civil court in Nantes ruled Tuesday that the French government bore partial responsibility for the 2016 death of Jean-Rene Auffray, a 50-year-old jogger who suffered rapid pulmonary oedema, which sees the lungs fill with liquid, after he inhaled high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide on a beach in western Brittany. In a statement, the court said that it "holds the state liable for negligence due to its failure to implement European and national regulations designed to protect waters from agricultural pollution," which is "the main cause of the proliferation of green algae in Brittany." "For the first time, a French court has recognized the link between a person's death and the state's negligence in these green algae cases," said the family's lawyer, Francois Lafforgue. Auffray's family sued the French government for his sudden death but lost its case in 2022 when the presiding judge ruled there had not been enough evidence to directly link it to algae rotting on the Gouessant estuary near the city of Saint-Brieuc. On Tuesday, the Nantes court ruled that the French state was 60% responsible for Auffray's death but also noted that he had put himself at risk by jogging in the area. Auffray's widow will receive €277,343 ($321,750), while each of his three children will receive €15,000, and his brother €9,000. Brittany is a veritable agricultural powerhouse within France and is responsible for producing much of the country's dairy (one-third), poultry (one-half) and pork (one-third). France has invested heavily in farming in the region for decades but that intensity and the excessive use of nitrate fertilizers combined with runoff from pig farms has led to massive algae bloom that chokes the coastal areas of the peninsula each year. Deadly concentrations of sulfides released from the rotting stuff regularly close beaches in the region and cost French taxpayers millions as tons of algae are trucked off each summer. France's top auditor reported in 2021 that an estimated 90% of Brittany's algae bloom could be traced back to farmers, who have significantly increased their use of nitrogen fertilizers since the 1960s. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
France ordered to compensate family of jogger killed by toxic algae
24 June 2025 19:34 RENNES, FRANCE (AFP)A French court on Tuesday ordered the state to compensate the family of a 50-year-old man who died in 2016 during a run after inhaling poisonous gas emitted by rotting green algae piled along the country's western Nantes appeals court found France liable for the death of Jean-Rene Auffray, citing its "negligence" in enforcing environmental regulations to protect its waters and prevent toxic green algae more than five decades, tons of green algae have washed up annually on Brittany's beaches in western France, releasing hydrogen sulphide gas as it rots - a toxin that can prove deadly in high a keen trail runner, died of sudden respiratory failure while jogging in the algae-choked Gouessant estuary near the city of family sued over his death, but in 2022 a court rejected the claim, ruling there was insufficient evidence to link the toxic algae to Auffray's decision reversed that ruling, marking the first time France has been held liable for the health risks posed by deadly green algae blooms along its court "holds the State liable for negligence due to its failure to implement European and national regulations designed to protect waters from agricultural pollution", which is "the main cause of the proliferation of green algae in Brittany", it explained in a court found Auffray's death was caused by a rapid pulmonary oedema -- a condition in which there is too much fluid in the lungs -- which could only be explained by fatal poisoning from inhaling hydrogen sulphide at very high deceased's family will receive partial compensation, as the court found the state 60 percent liable, noting that he had taken a personal risk by jogging in the state has been ordered to pay 277,343 euros ($321,750) to the jogger's wife, 15,000 euros to each of his three children, and 9,000 euros to his to a 2021 report from France's top audit court, around 90 percent of Brittany's algae blooms are caused by agriculture, where the use of nitrogen fertilisers has increased significantly since the 1960s. Intensive farming and the resulting nitrate pollution have been linked to the spread of green algae in the western Cotes-d'Armor region.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Health
- The Citizen
French state held liable for death linked to toxic green algae
A French court ordered the state to pay over €277,000 in damages after finding the government failed to enforce environmental protections, resulting in a fatal gas exposure. A French court on Tuesday ordered the state to compensate the family of a 50-year-old man who died in 2016 during a run after inhaling poisonous gas emitted by rotting green algae piled along the country's western coast. The Nantes appeals court found France liable for the death of Jean-Rene Auffray, citing its 'negligence' in enforcing environmental regulations to protect its waters and prevent toxic green algae blooms. For more than five decades, tons of green algae have washed up annually on Brittany's beaches in western France, releasing hydrogen sulphide gas as it rots — a toxin that can prove deadly in high concentrations. Initial legal efforts dismissed by courts Auffray, a keen trail runner, died of sudden respiratory failure while jogging in the algae-choked Gouessant estuary near the city of Saint-Brieuc. His family sued over his death, but in 2022 a court rejected the claim, ruling there was insufficient evidence to link the toxic algae to Auffray's death. Tuesday's decision reversed that ruling, marking the first time France has been held liable for the health risks posed by deadly green algae blooms along its coast. Court confirms failure to enforce pollution regulations The court 'holds the State liable for negligence due to its failure to implement European and national regulations designed to protect waters from agricultural pollution', which is 'the main cause of the proliferation of green algae in Brittany', it explained in a statement. ALSO READ: French prosecutors seek murder charge for school stabbing suspect The court found Auffray's death was caused by a rapid pulmonary oedema — a condition in which there is too much fluid in the lungs — which could only be explained by fatal poisoning from inhaling hydrogen sulphide at very high concentrations. 'State's negligence' 'For the first time, a French court has recognised the link between a person's death and the state's negligence in these green algae cases,' said the family's lawyer, Francois Lafforgue. The deceased's family will receive partial compensation, as the court found the state 60 percent liable, noting that he had taken a personal risk by jogging in the estuary. The state has been ordered to pay 277,343 euros ($321,750) to the jogger's wife, 15,000 euros to each of his three children, and 9,000 euros to his brother. Agricultural pollution driving algae blooms According to a 2021 report from France's top audit court, around 90 percent of Brittany's algae blooms are caused by agriculture, where the use of nitrogen fertilisers has increased significantly since the 1960s. Intensive farming — especially pig farming — and the resulting nitrate pollution have been linked to the spread of green algae in the western Cotes-d'Armor region. NOW READ: French grandmother files genocide complaint over Gaza killings
