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A floating house destroyed in thirty minutes
For the past five years, Francis had been living aboard a steel launch on the Canal du Midi at Poilhes in the Hérault region of France. The boat, which he had bought and converted for his retirement, was his life's savings and his only possession. One evening, he mishandled a bottle of petrol and a fire broke out. In less than half an hour, the boat was completely charred.
This speedboat was built by an amateur, " an old man in his garden for twenty years or so s", Francis tells us. He has since upgraded it with a water purification system, solar panels and a generator. " I was totally autonomous "he tells us, "I e drew water from the canal for showers and toilets, and also had a filter system for drinking it. "
It was while trying to refuel his group that Francis had his setbacks. " To fill up the generator, I used plastic bottles. They were easier to handle than cans. "But on this Saturday, August 30, 2025, he found himself in front of 2 bottles whose color was suspicious: " I wanted to know if it was diesel or petrol? I dipped a paper towel wick in it and lit it over the sink. The petrol quickly ignited, and no doubt in a backward movement I tipped the rest of the bottle over the fire. "The fire has spread rapidly and is becoming impossible to control:" I tried fire extinguishers, but they didn't work ". All that's left is for Francis to get out quickly and watch his only home disappear.
Physical and moral injuries
Francis managed to extricate himself from his boat, but is now suffering from burns to both hands and a shin injury. More than the physical after-effects, it's the sudden loss of his home that has left its mark on the yachtsman. " You watch your boat burn helplessly "he confides to his fellow sailors who have come to support him.
Lack of insurance, an aggravating factor
Like many owners of so-called "amateur-built" boats, Francis couldn't find a company to insure him. His former English company had stopped covering this type of vessel, and in France, a costly technical survey is often required before a suitable policy can be taken out. With no cover, he must now face the consequences of the loss alone.
Neighborhood impact
The fire didn't just destroy his boat. A neighboring boat, belonging to an English yachtsman, was also damaged. The owner of the boat may now sue Francis for compensation. Added to this are the costs of lifting the wreck out of the canal. Although the steel hull appears to be intact, the firefighters' hoses sank the boat, which now lies on the canal floor. There is now talk of taking the wreck directly to a deconstruction organization run by APER.
A roof over the water
Despite this catastrophe, Francis is not giving up on life on the water. He hopes to buy a new boat, even a modest one, and to renovate it so that he can find a floating shelter. Around him, the local solidarity of canal boaters is organizing itself, between material aid and moral support, to enable him to overcome this ordeal.
