Tragic Rafting Accident Claims Life of British Woman in French Alps

A white-water rafting adventure turned fatal on Saturday as the woman fell from her raft in the Guisane river, prompting local authorities to launch an investigation.

A British woman has died following a fatal incident while white-water rafting in the French Alps on Saturday. The accident occurred around noon local time (11:00 BST) on the Guisane river in Briançon, according to regional prosecutor Marion Lozac'hmeur. Despite being airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries, she was pronounced dead later that evening.

The victim, who has yet to be named, was part of an organized rafting excursion and fell off her raft while navigating a particularly perilous section of the river known as "the wallet." The local news outlet Le Dauphine reported on the incident and confirmed that local firefighters had found the woman along the riverbank.

The UK Foreign Office has acknowledged her death and stated that they are in contact with French authorities regarding the situation. An investigation for "involuntary manslaughter" has been initiated, and an autopsy is set to follow, as confirmed by Lozac'hmeur.

This tragic incident is reminiscent of a similar event in June 20224, when a British man lost his life while kayaking on the river Durance, another white-water venue in Briançon. Previous reports indicate that both the Guisane and Durance rivers are particularly popular for rafting due to their challenging rapids, mainly navigable in the early summer months due to glacial and snowmelt.