Two dead and one seriously hurt in inflatable ride crash in south of France: ‘Pilot falls out of boat, which then spins and crashes into passengers trailing behind’
Two people died and a third was seriously injured when an inflatable boat ride crashed in the south of France after the driver fell out of the vessel. The pilot's fall left the boat out of control, causing it to spin and collide with passengers who were being towed behind it, according to reports of the incident.
Emergency services responded to the scene following the crash, which occurred during what should have been a routine leisure activity on the water. The exact location, the identities of the victims, and the circumstances that led to the pilot losing control have not been detailed, and investigations into the cause of the accident are expected to follow.
In short
- Inflatable boat ride crash in southern France kills two people.
- Pilot fell out, boat spun and hit trailing passengers.
- One person left seriously injured; cause under investigation.
Explained simply
Inflatable rides are light, buoyant craft used for leisure trips on lakes and coastal waters. In some versions, a motorboat tows the inflatable, with passengers holding on as it moves across the water.
The boat’s driver steers and controls its speed, while people on the inflatable depend on the towing boat to guide the ride. If the driver falls out, the boat may continue moving without someone at the controls. The incident has drawn attention to the risks involved in towing activities and to how water-safety rules are applied.