A ceremony in tribute to three rescuers who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, is held Friday morning in the presence of Emmanuel Macron on the basis of the Civil Security Nimes-Garons (30). The mayor of Pertuis, where three people had been saved by the crew, took part.

This Friday, December 6 is a ceremony in honor of the three rescuers who died in a helicopter crash near Marseille, Sunday night, while they were carrying out relief operations with residents trapped by floods. Nearly 200 mayors were invited on the basis of the Civil Security of Nîmes-Garons, in the Gard, where the President of the Republic will preside over the tribute at 11 am.

"They owe their life to them"

Among them, Roger Pellenc, Mayor of Pertuis in the Vaucluse. "They are heroes, people who have sacrificed themselves for others and who deserve a heartfelt recognition", underlines, moved, the mayor of the commune where the crew who had damaged had saved three administrated a little earlier in the night.

#Hommage To help, they crisscross the sky day and night, sometimes in extreme conditions. Pilot, flight engineer, helicopter rescuer, they risked their lives to save the lives of others.
In memory of Jean Garat, Michel Escalin and Norbert Savornin pic.twitter.com/Ik4fr65YLt

- Civil Security Fr (@SecCivileFrance) December 2, 2019

"If we had not had the helicopter, which unfortunately crashed, we would have had three more victims ... There was three meters of water, they owe their life ...", says Roger Pellenc.

Emmanuel Macron will be accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner and the Secretary of State Laurent Nunez, but also the families of the victims as well as the mayors of the communes affected by the heavy rains in five departments.

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