- The person died in a stretch of the Durance, within the southeast of France, on Tuesday
A British kayaker who drowned in a French river bought into bother inside ten minutes of getting into the ‘lethally harmful’ Alpine waters.
The 55-year-old man bought into problem whereas in a fast-flowing stretch of the Durance, close to Briancon, within the southeast of France, on Tuesday afternoon round 3pm.
He was with a gaggle of 9 different British nationals, all of them within the canoe-style boats, when his tipped over.
‘There have been issues inside ten minutes of the group getting into the water,’ mentioned an investigating supply. ‘A person fell in, and two members of the social gathering dived in to try to rescue him, however his physique was discovered some forty minutes later down river.
‘All the pieces was carried out to try to revive him, however he couldn’t be resuscitated, and was declared drowned.’
The person, 55, was on a kayaking group journey with 9 different Britons on the Durance river close to Briancon (pictured), within the southeast of France, when he bought into problem within the waters on Tuesday afternoon
Emergency crews, together with a rescue helicopter, had been deployed and efficiently rescued two of the kayakers, however the British man couldn’t be resuscitated after he was pulled out of the river.
The person – who has not but been named – perished at Le Villaret, beneath a bridge within the city. He was an skilled kayaker, in response to native reviews.
Marion Lozac’hmeur, the Hole prosecutor, has opened an enquiry into the tragedy, and early enquiries level to an accident, she mentioned.
The day earlier than – Monday – an Irish kayacker aged 73 drowned on a stretch of the river Ubaye, at Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, near the Italian border.
He was in a gaggle of 4 individuals who had been kayaking within the Gleizolles area – one that’s massively common with water sports activities lovers.
‘The person bought into problem, tipped up within the water, and was unable to roll to proper himself once more,’ mentioned an emergency companies spokesman about Tuesday’s incident.
‘The alarm was raised at about 3pm, and a helicopter was despatched, however the physique of the deceased was discovered within the water.’
An investigation has been launched into the tragedy, and early enquiries additionally level to an accident.
Thomas Pascal, president of France’s union {of professional} canoe-kayak guides, mentioned that quick currents in Alpine rivers had been at the moment ‘lethally harmful’.
Report snowfall within the Alps, and the late melting of ice, imply elevated water ranges inflicting ‘actually excessive circulate charges’, he mentioned.
Mr Pascal mentioned: ‘A rock that often comes out of the water and doesn’t pose any downside, shall be lined and behind it, create a motion of water that may be violent and lure a kayaker.’
MailOnline has contacted the International Workplace for remark.
