Mother Dies in Jet Ski Accident After Colliding with Her Twin 16-Year-Old Daughters: Reports

The accident took place in Arcachon Bay off the southwest coast of France on Aug. 4

Jet ski tied by a rope to a modular floating plastic pontoon berth at seaside resort
A stock photo of a jet ski. Photo:

Getty

A mother in France has died after a jet ski she was riding reportedly collided with one being driven by her twin 16-year-old daughters.

On Sunday, Aug. 4, the 47-year-old woman was reportedly riding the jet ski with her 48-year-old partner in Arcachon Bay off the southwest coast of France when the accident occurred, per French newspapers Sud Ouest and The Connexion, and U.K. newspaper The Times.

According to The Times, the family, from the city of Angoulême in western France, had been under an instructor's supervision at the time of the incident.

Per The Connexion, early reports have suggested one of the riders may have lost control, but the cause of the collision is currently unknown.

This aerial view taken on July 29, 2022, shows the Banc d'Arguin National Nature Reserve, in the Bay of Arcachon, on the Atlantic coast in southwestern France.
A photo of the Banc d'Arguin National Nature Reserve in the Bay of Arcachon in southwestern France.

THIBAUD MORITZ/AFP via Getty Images

The outlet added that emergency services were called but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim's partner also sustained injuries in the crash, and the two girls have been "severely injured" but their "situation is not critical," according to the publication. 

The father and daughters were taken to a hospital in Bordeaux, the newspaper added.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In France, you have to be over 16 to drive a jet ski and must hold a boat license or be supervised by a qualified instructor, The Times reported.

Professional jet skier Sammy Maysonnave, who is also the president of the Arguin Jet Association, told Sud Ouest of the accident, "It is extremely unfortunate," in an article translated from French.

Per the outlet, it's now mandatory in the country to wear a wetsuit that's at least 2mm thick to help prevent injuries in the event of a fall.

"It's a good start," Maysonnave said, adding, "But helmets need to be made mandatory, that's the basics. I think it's also about educating users, perhaps with a special license, or an extra two or three hours of training." 

Jet ski tied by a rope to a modular floating plastic pontoon berth at seaside resort
Jet ski tied by a rope to a modular floating plastic pontoon.

Getty

The incident comes after two teens riding a jet ski were killed after they crashed into a boat at an Illinois lake on June 18.

The girls, aged 13 and 16, were riding the jet ski on Lake Marie near Antioch, Ill., when the accident happened, according to a social media post from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at the time.

“They were traveling in a northerly direction near the channel to Grass Lake, just north of the Elime Road Peninsula. At the same time a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser, being operated by a 55-year-old man of Antioch was traveling westbound in the same area, approaching the Gass Lake Channel,” the post read. 

Both girls were wearing life jackets but were knocked unconscious when they were thrown into the water upon impact, the post added. 

Comments
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. PEOPLE does not endorse the opinions and views shared by readers in our comment sections.

Related Articles