British woman killed in freak boating accident in south of France

Family describes mother-of-one Jess Wilkes, 27, as 'larger than life' after death on river Rhone near Avignon

Jess Wilkes (Jess Wilkes/Facebook)

Tributes have been paid to a British mother killed in a boating accident in southern France.

The victim, understood to be Jess Wilkes, 27, was flung from the craft as it travelled on the Rhone near the city of Avignon on Saturday night.

Four other people were injured, including two seriously, when the boat the group were in struck a warning beacon, a French official told the Associated Press.

Ms Wilkes, from Lamberhurst, Kent, is said to have spent the evening with friends at a restaurant on Barthelasse, an island on the river, and the boat was travelling back to Avignon.

Local officials have launched an investigation into the tragic incident as Ms Wilkes's family and friends paid tribute to her.

Ms Wilkes's brother, Philip Wilkes, 25, told The Sun his sister was “larger than life and loved by her family”.

Meanwhile her father, Bernard Wilkes, 72, said they “want answers” over the death of his “beautiful young girl who lived life to the full”.

He told the newspaper Ms Wilkes, who celebrated turning 27 earlier in October, had a seven-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile a friend wrote on Facebook that “no word can describe this awful pain in my heart” over Ms Wilkes's death.

They added: “I just wish I could be a better friend. Goodbye my twin, see you one day. Keep shining with your immense light in the sky.”

PA