French singer Kendji Girac is left fighting for life after being shot in the chest while visiting travellers’ camp

One of France’s most popular singers is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot in the chest during a visit to a travelers’ camp.

Kendji Girac, 27, is in the intensive care unit of Bordeaux University Hospital after being shot early this morning following a visit to a camp in nearby Biscarrosse.

“He was in a traveler’s camp where he was wounded by a firearm,” said a source in the investigation.

‘The gendarmes were alerted around 5:30 in the morning and when they arrived they found about 20 people who refused to communicate any information.

“Meanwhile, emergency services evacuated a seriously injured man who had been shot in the chest and rushed him to hospital.”

The source confirmed that the victim was Kendji Girac and described his medical condition as “life-threatening.”

Girac, a father of one, rose to fame in France in 2014 after winning the third season of the popular television singing show, The Voice. Since then, he has released five albums and performed duets with other French singing stars, such as Vianney and Florent Pagny.

Kendjii Girac was born Kendji Maillé in Périgueux, in the Dordogne, and is of Catalan gypsy origin.

He has often spoken of “growing up in a caravan” and becoming a trimmer after abandoning formal education at the age of 16.

In August 2013, his uncle posted a video online of Mr. Girac covering a song called Bella, in a gypsy style. It became a huge hit on YouTube and led to The Voice, which he won with more than 51 percent of the national vote.

In January 2021, Girac became the father of a daughter named Eva Alba, but he never revealed the identity of the little girl’s mother.

Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the shooting and police were searching the campground where it occurred on Monday.