Two Guards Collapse Near Macron at Élysée Palace
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Two members of France's Republican Guard collapsed near President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening in the courtyard of the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president.
Footage of the incident, which has since circulated online, shows the two men falling to the ground within seconds of each other, close to where Macron was standing.
The Republican Guard is an elite military unit tasked with protecting the president and ensuring security at official state buildings, including the Élysée Palace.
According to reports, both men suffered sudden malaises, a term used to describe an abrupt episode of physical weakness or illness that can lead to fainting.
The cause of the two collapses has not yet been established, and no official statement has been issued regarding the health of the guards involved.
It also remains unclear whether the two incidents are in any way related, given how closely together they occurred.
The courtyard of the Élysée Palace, where the collapses took place, is frequently used as a setting for official ceremonies, receptions and diplomatic events.
At the time of the incident, President Macron was reported to have been standing in close proximity to the two guards.
There is currently no publicly available information detailing his reaction or any immediate response from palace staff.
French authorities have not released further details, and questions remain over what exactly occurred at the palace that evening.
The footage has attracted significant attention, largely because of the striking coincidence of two guards fainting in such quick succession.
Observers have speculated about possible explanations, ranging from heat or fatigue to unrelated individual health issues, although none of these have been confirmed.
Members of the Republican Guard often stand for long periods during ceremonial duties, a factor that has previously been linked to fainting incidents involving honour guards in various countries.
As of now, the Élysée Palace has not issued a formal comment on the matter, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
Vocabulary7 words
- Republican Guard
- a special group of French soldiers who protect leaders
- incident
- something that happens, often unexpected
- malaise
- a sudden feeling of being very sick or weak
- courtyard
- an open space outside a building, with walls around it
- elite
- the best or most skilled group
- authorities
- people or groups with official power
- fainting
- suddenly losing consciousness
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Quiz
Answer key
1. In the courtyard of the Élysée Palace 2. Malaises 3. False
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think footage of this incident attracted so much public attention?
- What kinds of working conditions might cause ceremonial guards to faint during long duties?
- How important is it for officials to quickly explain unusual incidents like this to the public?
- What questions would you want answered if you were a journalist covering this story?
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