Yann Meersseman posted a picture of South Beach sunset along with an update on his son, who was wounded in Paris attacks.
Vineyard Colors

Island Rallies Around Vineyarder Whose Son Was Injured in Paris Attacks

<p>Vineyarders have offered support this weekend for Oak Bluffs resident Yann Meersseman. His son, Arnaud Meersseman, was shot and wounded that night but is expected to recover.</p>

As Parisians and the rest of the world continue to mourn Friday’s terror attacks, the Vineyard community is rallying around one of their own.

Arnaud Meersseman, son of Oak Bluffs resident Yann Meersseman, was shot and wounded that night but is expected to recover.

Mr. Meersseman said this weekend that Arnaud, 34, a concert promoter and booking agent, was shot near the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were killed. He had a pierced lung and the bullet passed close to his heart, Mr. Meersseman wrote on Facebook, so he was kept in an induced coma. As of Sunday night he was heavily sedated and unable to speak, he said, but showed signs of recognition when his brother spoke.

Mr. Meersseman posted the updates on the Facebook page for Vineyard Colors, which he runs with his wife, Moira Fitzgerald. The couple take daily pictures of the Island while delivering newspapers.

The news prompted an outpouring of support on the Facebook page and caught the attention of the media. By Monday morning Mr. Meersseman said on Facebook that his family felt the attention was becoming a distraction and they would like to focus on Arnaud and no longer provide public updates.

Arnaud’s brothers Mathieu and Clement have joined him in Paris, Mr. Meersseman said, along with their mother, who lives in southern France. Mr. Meersseman said he plans head to Paris early this week.

“We can’t begin to thank you for the overwhelming show of thoughts, prayers, and sympathy,” Mr. Meersseman posted late Saturday, along with a picture of the sunset over South Beach.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/17/2015 - 00:24

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Christine Waltham

My prayers are sent to Arnaud. We as a nation must stop those radical Islamic jihadists from inflicting more barbaric carnage on innocent people. ISIS is evil!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 11:59

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Ess Western MA.

Wishing you and family peace,light ,health and safe passage. Thank you for your daily visions.

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