25,000-volt high-voltage line falls into river: 40 kayakers on a trip stuck in the water

On October 5, 2024, 40 kayakers found themselves stuck on the Garonne because of a fallen high-voltage line.

The kayak trip ended with a bus ride home. On Saturday, a group of forty people got stuck by a high-voltage line that had fallen into the Garonne, near Portet-sur-Garonne, not far from Toulouse, reports France 3.

A 25,000-volt dam

The amateur kayakers were divided into two groups. They were walking along the Garonne not far from Toulouse when, during their walk, they noticed a major obstacle.

A 25,000-volt high-voltage line blocked their path, enough to cause a real fright.

Safe and sound

Interrupting their journey at the last minute, they had to turn back. But not all of them made it. While eight of them were able to turn back in their kayaks, the other 32 had to put their feet on land.

The trip – no longer very aquatic – ended by bus. The Haute-Garonne firefighters supervised the rescue operations. Our colleagues indicate that no one was injured. The companies RTE and Enedis then took over to secure the area and straighten the line.