1 Firefighter Dead, 3 Injured at French Guiana Space Center

A Paris firefighter has died, and 3 others injured while working as part of the protection mission of the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

The firefighter brigade has been dispatched to an emergency mission on the Soyuz launch pad, when the tanker left the road due to wet conditions. The tanker overturned in the ditch.

"This Wednesday, March 29, 2023 around 8:30 a.m. Guyana time, four soldiers from the Paris fire brigade assigned to Guyana as part of the mission to protect the Center Spatial Guyanais intervene for an emergency mission on the launch pad of Soyuz. On the way to the scene of the intervention, the tanker accidentally leaves the road made slippery by a night of torrential rain and overturned in the ditch. Dispatched to the scene as soon as possible, the Paris firefighters from the Kourou specialized unit immediately take care of their injured comrades andcarry out the extrication. At the same time, a medical team from the SAMU of Guyana arrived on the scene as well as aDRAGON helicopter.

One of the soldiers is transported to Kourou hospital. Despite all the efforts made,dies in hospital.

The three other members of the crew were injured. Their vital prognosis is no longer engaged. Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior and Overseas, expresses his deep sadness and assures the family of the deceased Paris firefighter, and those of the injured, of his compassion and his fullest support in this terrible ordeal. It also assures their brothers in arms, who are committed at all times and in all places tocarry out their public relief mission, its unwavering presence at their side."

The CEO of Arianespace has released a statement.

[tweet https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/1641159602392711185]

"A firefighter died this morning in operation on the Guyana space base. This tragedy reminds us of the unfailing commitment of the men and women of the BSPP serving in Kourou as well as the risks incurred by its teams, in constant support of the activities of the base"