The Reyran River is very irregular.
A dam would help tame the river and provide water all round the year.
The ruins of the Malpasset Dam near Frejus, in southern France.
Coyne had been building dams throughout his career.
Coyne built dams in fourteen countries, including Portugal, India, Morocco, Zimbabwe, and Canada.
Construction of the Malpasset Dam began in 1952 and completed in 1954.
Shortly after, the first filling of the reservoir began.
The Malpasset Dam before it failed.
The four last meters had filled up in less than 24 hours.
Over 400 people perished and 7,000 were left homeless.
Andre Coyne, the dams chief engineer, was deeply affected by the tragedy.
He died less than a year later.
Despite the death of her partner, Jodart was determined to marry him.
de Gaulle agreed to look into the matter.
Hundreds of widows and widowers have applied for post-mortem matrimony since then.
The president, if he wishes, eventually signs a decree allowing the marriage.
Every year, French authorities receive around fifty requests for posthumous marriage.
About 20 get approval.
The ruins of the Malpasset Dam near Frejus, in southern France.
Most posthumous weddings are organized quietly.
Usually, the woman will stand next to a picture of her deceased fiance.
But some marriages have drawn media attention.
In 2009, Magali Jaskiewicz married her fianceanother victim of a road accident.
Magali Jaskiewiczs boyfriend who had asked her to marry him two days before he was killed.
Outside of France, there have only been a handful of cases where the law have upheld posthumous marriages.
