Overview

• On July 16, a 47-year-old German father and his three children were caught on a sandbank at Audresselles when a rapid flood wave surged in.
• A nearby resident heard cries for help and waded into turbulent waters to pull the children to safety before rescue teams arrived.
• Firefighters and paramedics attempted to revive the father on the beach but pronounced him dead at the scene.
• Two of the children, ages nine and 13, suffered minor injuries and are being treated at the hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
• Local authorities have opened an inquiry into the coastal conditions and tidal patterns that led to the unexpected flooding.