French Tourist Dies in Paragliding Accident in Elgeyo Marakwet

A French tourist has died following a tragic paragliding accident in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, after her parachute developed a fault mid-flight.

The victim, identified as Maud Frederique, 49, was paragliding with her husband on Tuesday, January 20, when the incident occurred. The couple had taken off from a resort in Iten and successfully glided towards the Nyaru area in Keiyo South Sub-county, each using separate parachutes.

According to Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge, the flight initially went as planned. Trouble began on their return journey when the woman’s husband, Pierre Laurens, lost all communication with her. Attempts to reach her via radio and mobile phone were unsuccessful, raising concern.

Fearing something had gone wrong, Laurens decided to land in Iten town to search for her. While trying to reconnect using the radio, a stranger responded and informed him that his wife had been involved in an accident and was being rushed to Iten County Referral Hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Laurens found his wife admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Medical staff revealed that she had sustained serious injuries, including a pelvic fracture, internal bleeding, and dangerously low blood pressure. Despite efforts by doctors to save her life, she later passed away.

Preliminary investigations established that her parachute had developed a puncture, causing it to collapse and leading to the fatal fall.

Police confirmed that the couple had arrived in Kenya as tourists on January 17 and were scheduled to leave the country on January 31.

Maud Frederique’s body has been preserved at the Iten Hospital Mortuary, with plans underway to transfer it to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi as repatriation arrangements continue.