The British woman dies after an incident with rafting in French Alps

A British woman died on a white water rafting trip to the French Alps.

The woman fell from her raft shortly after the local time of noon (11:00 BST) on Saturday on the Gisan River in Briancon, in southeastern France, Regional Prosecutor Marion Lozak’Har told the French news agency AFP.

It was later found on the river bank before being transferred to a nearby hospital in serious condition, firefighters told local media.

Lozac’hmeur said the victim “unfortunately died last night”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a British woman has died in France and said she was in connection with local authorities.

The woman was part of an organized trip along the river and traveled a part of the river, known as the “portfolio” when it fell, according to the local newsletter Le Dauphine.

It is not mentioned either in the local media, nor by the authorities in France, nor by the United Kingdom.

An investigation into Inadvertent Murder has been opened and an autopsy will be held, said Lozak’Har.

Last year, a Briton died after falling into difficulty in the Durance River, which also passed through Briencon.

It was part of a kayak group in June 2024 after a period of heavy snow upstream, the local newspaper Le Dauphine reported. The other two were saved unharmed.

Both Guizan and Dueria are popular rivers for white water rafting, powered by glaciers and snowfall in the spring.

They have sections for challenging rapids, but are usually floating for only two or three months in early summer, according to the official Briancon website.