PSG fan drowns in River Seine as chaos rocks Paris

A Paris Saint-Germain fan has drowned in the River Seine during wild celebrations after the club’s Champions League victory over Arsenal.

The unnamed supporter, said to be in his 30s, was found beneath the Louis-Philippe Bridge near Notre Dame Cathedral on Sunday morning.

His death is the second fatality linked to the chaotic celebrations that followed PSG’s historic Champions League win.

An investigating source said river police recovered the man’s body at about 7 a.m., but efforts to revive him failed.

According to witnesses, the fan had been celebrating PSG’s victory and had been drinking before jumping into the river.

“River police took the body out of the river at around 7am, but attempts to revive the man, who was in his 30s, failed,” the source said.

“Witnesses described how he was out celebrating PSG’s win, and had been drinking heavily before jumping into the water.”

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident and appealed to witnesses who were in the area to come forward.

A second man who also jumped into the river on Sunday is reportedly in critical condition in a Paris hospital.

Authorities said he suffered cardiac arrest despite emergency care and was later rushed to hospital.

The drowning came after another PSG supporter died in the early hours of Sunday following a motorbike crash on the Paris ring road.

Prosecutors said CCTV footage showed that the 23-year-old rider was the only person involved in the crash.

They added that traffic cones marking a concrete barrier had been removed by pedestrians during the celebrations.

Paris was thrown into disorder after PSG defeated Arsenal on penalties in Budapest to win the Champions League.

French authorities said about 790 people were arrested across the country, with nearly 400 arrests recorded in Paris.

Shops were looted, fires were set, fireworks were fired at police officers, and major roads were blocked as celebrations turned violent.

Police also opened an attempted murder investigation after a 17-year-old was attacked near the Champs-Élysées.

The teenager was taken to hospital in critical condition, while police said they were searching for suspects linked to the attack.

Violence was also reported around Parc des Princes, PSG’s home ground, where fans had gathered to watch the final on giant screens.

Riot police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse crowds as thousands of supporters flooded parts of Paris.

Some fans reportedly climbed scaffolding near Rue de Rivoli, while tourists caught in the unrest had to be escorted back to their hotels by riot control officers.

The French Interior Ministry said around 8,000 officers were deployed across greater Paris to manage the situation.

Authorities also said thousands of people were stopped and searched, with potential weapons, including knives and clubs, recovered.

The celebrations also turned violent in other French cities, including Rennes, Strasbourg and Grenoble.

PSG’s victory was meant to mark one of the biggest nights in the club’s history, but the scenes of violence and death have now overshadowed parts of the celebration.