Earth Science News
FROTH AND BUBBLE
France ordered to compensate family of jogger killed by toxic algae
France ordered to compensate family of jogger killed by toxic algae
by AFP Staff Writers
Rennes, France (AFP) June 24, 2025

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.

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.

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 euros ($321,750) to the jogger's wife, 15,000 euros to each of his three children, and 9,000 euros 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.

Related Links
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FROTH AND BUBBLE
New rules may not change dirty and deadly ship recycling business
Chittagong, Bangladesh (AFP) June 18, 2025
Mizan Hossain fell 10 metres (33-foot) from the top of a ship he was cutting up on Chittagong beach in Bangladesh - where the majority of the world's maritime giants meet their end - when the vibrations shook him from the upper deck. He survived, but his back was crushed. "I can't get up in the morning," said the 31-year-old who has a wife, three children and his parents to support. "We eat one meal in two, and I see no way out of my situation," said Hossain, his hands swollen below a deep sc ... read more

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Storm-plagued Mexico faces the music as warming continues apace

Israel says WHO 'selective silence' deafening after hospital hit in Iranian strike

Israel to expel French nationals on Gaza aid boat by end of week

Trump deploys Marines as tensions rise over Los Angeles protests

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Toxic legacies of mining scar South Africa's Soweto and contaminate Thai rivers from Myanmar operations

Q-Tech expands rad-hardened oscillator line to boost new space platform designs

New Zealand targets leadership in superconducting space tech with new research alliance

Trump pocketed over $57 mn from crypto coin sales

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Climate change could double summer rainfall in the Alps: study

Most of Europe's bathing waters safe for swimming: report

'We have to try everything': Vanuatu envoy taking climate fight to ICJ

Water levels plummet at drought-hit Iraqi reservoir

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Permafrost in Swiss Alps at record warmth

Arctic warming spurs growth of carbon-soaking peatlands

How did life survive 'Snowball Earth'? In ponds, study suggests

In Norway's Arctic, meteorologists have a first-row seat to climate change

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Brazil says free of bird flu, will resume poultry exports

Climate change could cut crop yields up to a quarter

Heat tolerant crops achievable but require long timelines and major investment

Turkmenistan names high-yield wheat after its leaders

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Two dead in Mexico as Hurricane Erick moves on from Mexican coast

Nigeria flood victims mourn missing bodies as death toll stagnates

Dozens of Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano erupts

Cleanup begins as Hurricane Erick moves on from Mexican coast

FROTH AND BUBBLE
34 Niger soldiers killed in attack near Mali border: defence ministry

DR Congo, Rwanda to sign peace accord on June 27

Russia steps out from shadows in Africa with state paramilitary

Nine killed in Niger jihadist attack: local sources

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Deforestation in S.Leone national park threatens chimps, humans alike

Light travels through entire human head in breakthrough for optical brain imaging

Human brain reveals hidden action cues AI still fails to grasp

If people stopped having babies, how long would it be before humans were all gone?

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.