Tragic Incident Claims Life of British Woman in French Rafting Accident

A woman fell from her raft in the Guisane river, sparking an investigation into the circumstances of her death.

A tragic accident in the French Alps has resulted in the death of a British woman during a white-water rafting excursion. The incident occurred shortly after noon local time on Saturday when the woman fell from her raft on the Guisane river in Briançon, a popular area known for its challenging rapids.

According to regional prosecutor Marion Lozac'hmeur, she was discovered on the riverbank and subsequently airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries that evening.

The British Foreign Office has confirmed the death and is working closely with local authorities to support the victim's family. The woman was part of an organized rafting trip, navigating a particularly tricky part of the river known as "the wallet" at the time of the incident.

Her identity has not yet been released by either French or UK officials. Authorities have launched an investigation for involuntary manslaughter, and an autopsy is expected to take place.

This heartbreaking event follows another tragic case from the previous year when a British man lost his life while kayaking on the Durance river, which also flows through Briançon. Such rivers are renowned for their white-water rafting opportunities, especially in spring when they are fed by melting snow and glaciers. However, they are often only navigable for a short window during early summer due to the rapidly changing conditions.