Soldiers killed in Burkina Faso: "Alain, he was my hero"

Léa, 26, with her companion, Alain Bertoncello, one of the two French soldiers killed in Burkina Faso/undated photo

Léa was the companion of Alain Bertoncello, killed in Burkina Faso by releasing the hostages. This 26-year-old soldier confides in exclusivity.

Her name is Léa, she is 26 years old and despite the pain of losing the man of her life, she has agreed to testify. To pay tribute to Alain. Alain Bertoncello, 28, one of the two French soldiers killed in Burkina Faso during the operation to liberate the two French tourists abducted on 1 May in Benin.

Joined in the Southwest, Léa first wants to read us a text she wrote for him. "Alain Bertoncello was my companion. He was a cheerful, smiling, funny man. We believe life together and we were very complimentary in a fused relationship. We had many projects. Alain was humble, active on all fronts. Helpful, attentive, a perfectionist. He was a perfect man and it was my Sun. »

"Its maturity was extreme"

The young woman marks a pause and resumes. "His main qualities were righteousness and rigor. The love of work well done, up to the last detail. He was a man of conviction, a great professional appreciated by his colleagues. His maturity was extreme. He had an acute consciousness of reality. His commitment and ability to work have led him logically in the most prestigious and selective army units: the Hubert Commando. »

Léa's voice describes how Alain was aware of the dangers he faced with realism. "He was certain that he was physically and mentally ready for this mission. He accomplished it to the end. And so it is a successful mission despite its disappearance and that of Cédric, "she reads again.

"We are prepared for absence"

Her finished the text, Léa confides, in tears: "the death of Alain is a great shock. We're prepared for the absence. I am also a military, I also go on a regular mission, we know this emptiness. But sudden death is not expected. It's just unthinkable. Yet we know the risks of his job. But we don't necessarily think about it. I can't believe I'll never see him again. It's too brutal. "

Léa spoke to Alain shortly before the assault. "The day before on the phone, he was fine. I felt in his voice that he was going to go on the field. Of course, he did not say anything about his mission. We exchanged words of love. And here, the next day at my job, I knew it was over. I'll never see him again. He's my hero. As my 12-year-old little brother said, it's our Avenger. »

"He gave his life for France"

The young woman hopes that France will never forget what this elite soldier did. "That he gave his life for France. For us. I am shocked to see that all the French are affected by his disappearance, "says Léa, who wanted to leave the army to live with Alain in Toulon (var). What does she think of the controversy that has erupted on the presence of the two French tourists in a sensitive region of Africa?

"I'm sure I hate it. I blame them for being away in this country when it was not necessary to go there, "she responded before she qualified. "If you start thinking like that, you don't get out. People who go to the mountains can also put themselves in danger. It is the duty of rescuers to go and save them... Anyway, there are mistakes everywhere. And that's life, unfortunately. »

Léa prefers to evoke the sense of duty of the one whom she is so proud to be the companion. "Alain was there to fulfill his mission and he did it to the end. His goal was to save those lives. They are supermen, his comrades and he is the elite of the French army, concludes Léa who will attend the national tribute Tuesday to the Invalides in Paris: "it'll be hard, but I'll do it for him".