A month ago, Stanislas’ parents testified in our column, hoping “things will change.” Six years after the death of their son who was hit by a boat propeller in 2019 while taking a kitesurfing course at Glénans sailing school, they have had “no news from the justice system” and feel “completely helpless”.
Summoned by the investigative judge in charge of the investigation, the famous Glénans sailing school, one of the largest in Europe, was finally charged on October 27 with involuntary manslaughter in the investigation into the young man’s death, according to corroborating sources.
The association “Les Glénans” confirmed their charges, but stated that they did not wish to comment on the subject “until the investigation is closed”.
Is there too much responsibility entrusted to the trainee instructor?
On 28 April 2019, during a kitesurfing course on the Glénan archipelago (Finistère), Stanislas Renard, 18, was seriously injured by the propeller of a boat driven by a trainee instructor who came to pick him up at the end of the day.
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The boat’s passengers, unbalanced by the rollover, stepped on the gas, pushing the RIB toward the kitesurfer, who was caught by the propeller.
The Glénans School was accused of giving the trainee instructor too much responsibility considering his training and leaving him to pilot a boat with a very powerful engine and very sensitive and unprotected throttle controls.
A report from the Bureau of Maritime Incident Investigation (BEA Mer), published in September 2019, had reported a series of malfunctions at the start of the accident.
Four people were charged
“Stanislas’ parents are satisfied that this case is finally moving forward, and in the right direction, after years of inaction,” answered Dylan Slama, attorney for the victim’s family.
“This is an important step towards official recognition of serious violations of security regulations,” he said, stressing that his client wants “responsibility established, not out of a spirit of revenge, but out of concern for the truth and in the hope that such a tragedy will not happen again.”
Four people were also charged in the case, according to sources close to the case. When contacted, the Quimper prosecutor’s office did not provide a response.
Founded in 1947, the Glénans school receives more than 15,000 instructors and trainees per year. It has bases in Brittany, including the Glénan archipelago, but also in Hérault and Corsica.
