British woman dies after rafting accident in Alps

A 69-year old British woman has died in a hospital in south-eastern France after sustaining major injuries in a rafting accident. 

She was taking part in a guided outing along the Guisane river (Hautes-Alpes) on Saturday morning (July 19).

The group were rafting a section of the river between Colombiers park in Saint-Chaffrey to a bridge in Briançon. 

The accident happened close to a rapid along the river that is known for occasionally having violent currents and known locally as the ‘portefeuille’. 

Firefighters who attended the scene reported that the woman fell out of her raft when approaching this section of the river.

The video below shows the rapids in this area in 2020.

The woman was found on the riverbank by emergency services who attended. She was taken to Briançon hospital but was pronounced dead later that day. 

Manslaughter investigation 

An investigation into the incident has been opened by the local authorities. 

The nature of the investigation changed after the woman’s death, and is now under the charge of manslaughter, said public prosecutor in Gap Marion Lozac’hmeur. 

“Investigations are continuing to determine the circumstances of the accident,” and an autopsy will be conducted, she added.