Jonathan Destin, (9 December 1994 – 20 August 2022) was a French writer. A victim of harassment, he attempted suicide on 7 February 2011. He survived but suffered visible injuries, and later wrote about his torments.

Jonathan Destin
Born(1994-12-09)9 December 1994
Lille, Nord, France
Died20 August 2022(2022-08-20) (aged 27)
Marquette-lez-Lille, France
OccupationWriter
LanguageFrench
GenreAutobiography
Notable worksCondamné à me tuer [Sentenced to Take My Own Life]
The Day I Burned My Heart [fr] (film adaptation)

Biography edit

During his school years, Destin endured very severe school bullying for six years, from CM2 (a primary school grade for ages 10–11 in the French educational system) through secondary school.[1] In February 2011 when he was 16 years old, bullies threatened him with a weapon and told him to bring 100 € (139.2 US dollars) to school for them.[1] The next day, he attempted suicide by setting himself on fire.[2] He then threw himself into the Deûle river. To treat the burns that covered 72% of his body, medical staff put him into an induced coma for three months.[3][4] He went through twenty surgeries.[4]

His book, Condamné à me tuer [Sentenced to Take My Own Life], written in collaboration with Marie-Thérèse Cuny [fr], is an autobiography that traces the story that led to his suicide attempt.[1][2][5]

On the occasion of the national day against bullying in November 2018, TF1 broadcast a TV movie called The Day I Burned My Heart [fr], an adaptation of his book. Michaël Youn was part of the cast. The telefilm drew a record audience during its broadcast.[6]

Destin's mother announced that her son died on 20 August 2022 in his sleep.[4] As of 24 August 2022, the cause of death was unknown. There is an autopsy and a police investigation.[2][7][8]

Bibliography edit

  • Destin, Jonathan (2013). Cuny, Marie-Thérèse (ed.). Condamné à me tuer [Sentenced to Take My Own Life] (in French). Paris: XO éd. ISBN 978-2-84563-646-0. OCLC 866825115.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Turpin, Eric; Bidault, Cécile (7 October 2013). "Harcèlement: Jonathan Destin, 18 ans, témoigne dans un livre" [Harassment: Jonathan Destin, 18, testifies in a book]. France Bleu (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Torchbearer of anti-bullying campaign Jonathan Destin dies in France". GulfToday. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Sentenced to Take My Own Life". XO Editions. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Le Parisien (22 August 2022). "Jonathan Destin, symbole de la lutte contre le harcèlement scolaire, est mort à l'âge de 27 ans" [Jonathan Destin, symbol of the fight against school bullying, dead at the age of 27]. leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. ^ Obiang, Elzie (5 November 2015). "Harcèlement scolaire: Jonathan Destin témoigne de son calvaire" [School harassment: Jonathan Destin testifies to his ordeal]. LEFIGARO (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  6. ^ Didier, Carine (6 November 2018). "Audiences TV: le téléfilm de TF1 sur le harcèlement scolaire domine largement" [TV audiences: TF1's TV movie on school bullying dominates]. leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Jonathan Destin, figure de la lutte contre le harcèlement scolaire, est mort à 27 ans" [Jonathan Destin, figure in the fight against school bullying, dead at 27]. Le Monde.fr (in French). 23 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Symbole de la lutte contre le harcèlement scolaire, Jonathan Destin est décédé" [Symbol of the fight against school bullying, Jonathan Destin has died]. La Voix du Nord (in French). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.

External links edit