A mother died after the boat she was travelling in smashed into a beacon throwing her overboard while on holiday in France.

The victim’s body, understood to be Jess Wilkes, 27, of Lamberhurst, was later found by divers at a depth of 6m in the Rhone River, following the crash on Saturday night.

The crash happened when the victim, travelling with other tourists, returned to the city of Avignon on a 7m boat driven by a helmsman, following dinner with friends on the river island Barthelasse.

It is understood French police have launched a manslaughter investigation, and are trying to ascertain whether the skipper of the river boat was at fault.

Tributes have been paid to Ms Wilkes, understood to be mother to a five-year-old daughter.

Her brother, Philip Wilkes, 25, told The Sun his sister was "larger than life and loved by her family".

Her father, Bernard Wilkes, 72, said they "want answers" over the death of his "beautiful young girl who lived life to the full".

“At the moment we’re just in tears. She was beautiful and full of life."

He added: “We want answers about the guy driving the boat. He was a restaurant owner taking them back after a meal.

“We haven’t heard anything. They won’t release anything as the investigation is ongoing.

“She was out celebrating the birthday of her boss, Guy. It was a dinner, Guy’s family live out there.

“She had done promotional work for Chelsea and Wembley, but wanted to do architecture.

"She’s never been to university, she was studying while working for Guy,” he told the Sun newspaper.

It is understood a total of five other people, including one Briton, were taken to hospital after the collision, two of them with serious injuries.

Police, who are now investigating the cause of the accident, say victims and witnesses are yet to be questioned because they are in shock.

A free boat shuttle service runs from just east of the Pont d'Avignon to the island, taking about 10 minutes to cross.

Barthelasse is France's largest and one of its most popular river islands.