Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing Number 266 |13 April 2022

Explosion survivors share their ordeal with the TRNUC

It was in the afternoon of September 22, 1979 that three innocent teenagers lost their lives while getting ready to play football at Anse Faure when an explosive device, believed to be a rocket equipped with an explosive warhead blew up, instantly killing Patrick De Sylva, Andre Etienne and Micky Pouponneau.

According to the Seychelles NATION newspaper published on Monday September 24, 1979, in an article entitled ‘Three die in explosion’, the three were swimming in deep water with a group of other young friends when, while diving, they found an unfamiliar object which they brought ashore.

Still according to the newspaper report, unknown to them it was an explosive device which went off as they played with it, killing the three above-mentioned, while injuring four other boys.

The article further states that the police were investigating the tragic occurrence, something which never happened.

According to stories from the authority at that time, the object was related way back to the Second World War, while according to witnesses, the spot was a training ground for the army and they had been training the nights before around the area.

Still according to witnesses, it is believed that the army had negligently left these unexploded grenades behind.

Nearly 43 years after the tragic incident, two survivors of the explosion, namely Daniel De Sylva – the brother of Patrick – (case 500) and Peter Pouponneau – the brother of Micky – (case 501) were in front of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) to give their version of the incident.

Both Messrs De Sylva and Pouponneau began their testimony almost identically, with both stating that they were at the location – ashore – to play football, when they discovered a strange object, contrary to the swimming story which appeared in the Nation newspaper.

Mr Pouponneau said it was him who picked up the object on the piece of land which they were clearing to play football and threw it away, before hearing an explosion.

He described the object as a metal thing and said after regaining consciousness he was about four metres away from where he was initially standing.

On his part, Mr De Sylva said the object was similar to a bottle and noted that after his friend threw away the object, he just heard a huge explosion, before noticing a huge cloud.

Fully conscious at that time, Mr De Sylva said he instantly noticed that he was badly injured, with his left leg seriously damaged, while his upper body was covered in blood due to several laceration suffered from the explosion.

As for Mr Pouponneau, he said he limped inside the Katiolo discotheque, going out through the front door where he saw the late Guy Pool who arrived simultaneously in his car which was a red Starlet.

He said he just dropped himself in the car and asked Mr Pool to take him to the hospital.

Mr Pouponneau explained to the Commission that when they were about to leave, Mr De Sylva was also put in the car, and they left together for the hospital.

Following the incident, both victims went through a lot of ordeal, going back and forth to the hospital, admitting for several months constantly.

They both suffered several bone fractures, mainly in the lower part of the body, along with a lot of serious lacerations all over their bodies.

According to both victims, they still have pieces of metal in their bodies and that still suffer constant pain to date.

They explained that the incident has robbed them of their youth, preventing them to live a normal life, minimising, or taking away all their life opportunities since they were constantly being hospitalised.

Mr Pouponneau said following the incident, his mother set up an appointment to see the President at that time – Albert Rene – but was referred to Ogilvy Berlouis who simply told them ‘fotespere i a vin en leson pour zot’ (hopefully it serves as a lesson for them).

By ‘zot’, it is not clear whether he was referring to the army, or the victims of the explosion.

Roland Duval