“He truly embodied the state of mind of this magnificent human adventure. » Azzedine Hedna died on the night of November 8 to 9 at his home. This 64-year-old scaffolder was “one of the key figures in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris,” Philippe Jost, head of the public establishment responsible for this work on the cathedral, said on Instagram. “Devastated during the night from Friday to Saturday at his home by a serious health accident, he could not be saved,” he added.
A few weeks before retirement
Azzedine Hedna was going to retire in a few weeks. Time to complete the reconstruction of the cathedral undertaken more than five years ago, and the inauguration of which is scheduled for December 7. “He always told me: Notre-Dame is the pride of my life. He was so happy to be there,” assures Parisian Marie Parant, restorer of the mural paintings of the cathedral ravaged by the flames on April 15, 2019. “Through his commitment, his energy, his enthusiasm, his kindness, he had acquired the friendship of all,” adds Philippe Jost in his tribute post on social networks.
Emotion and tributes
After the announcement of his death, Azzedine Hedna received many tributes from his colleagues and his family. “Dad was very proud to work for Notre-Dame Cathedral,” Najib Hedna, son of the craftsman, told BFMTV. “It was a great honor for him. (…) He was to receive a medal upon reopening. He was very proud of it. Unfortunately, he will only have it posthumously.”
On All my condolences to his family, his loved ones and his fellow artisans who are losing one of their own. We will not forget that it is thanks to men like him that Notre-Dame will regain its splendor. » His colleagues plan to meet “in the coming days” at the site’s base camp to pay him a final tribute.