French gendarme who took place of hostage in supermarket attack dies of injuries

PARIS -- The French gendarme who swapped himself for a female hostage during an attack on a supermarket in Trebes, southern France, on Friday has died of his injuries, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb tweeted Saturday.

The gendarme, Arnaud Beltrame, offered himself up unarmed to the attacker in exchange for the woman who was taken as a human shield and managed to leave his phone on a table with an open line so that police could hear what was going on inside the supermarket.

Police stormed into the supermarket and killed the gunman once they heard gunshots inside.

The gendarme was seriously injured and succumbed to his injures.

"Dead for his country. France will never forget his heroism, bravery and sacrifice," Collomb said in a Twitter message.