Tributes have been paid to a young Pairi Daiza employee who died suddenly earlier this week. Adrien, 28, who worked in the zoo’s IT department, reportedly died in his sleep. Colleagues described him as someone who worked with “humility and kindness”.
In a statement released on its social media page, Pairi Daiza said: “Some news we wish we never had to tell you. This one is particularly painful. And words fail us. Last night, we lost one of our own, Adrien. A member of our IT team, our colleague passed away suddenly, in his sleep, at the age of 28.
“Few visitors knew his face, yet all of you benefited from his excellent work. Adrien was one of those behind-the-scenes figures essential to the smooth running of the park. Thanks to his commitment and expertise, he contributed every day to making your experience at Pairi Daiza a success.
“Today, we mourn a colleague, a friend, a passionate man. His memory will remain anchored behind the scenes of the park, where he gave so much, with professionalism, humility and kindness. More than ever, our thoughts are with him, his loved ones, his family, his partner, his friends and colleagues.”
The park shared an image of Adrien feeding a red panda at the zoo alongside the statement. The post prompted thousands of tributes and well-wishes from across the country. One commenter, who knew the young man personally, said: “Having had the good fortune to have known him and worked with him, I can say that he was an extraordinary person who will be sorely missed.”
