“As he came back towards me, the roof collapsed under his feet”: how the exploration of an industrial wasteland turned into a tragedy in Ariège

This Wednesday, November 20, around 3 p.m., Jules*, a 17-year-old teenager, fell eight meters while exploring an industrial wasteland in Lavelanet. The firefighters intervened to rescue the student from the Joseph-Marie Jacquard high school. They tore off a metal plate to help him in the building. The young man, in serious condition, was evacuated to the Purpan University Hospital. He underwent two operations; his condition is stabilized, although still critical. An investigation was opened by the gendarmerie to establish the circumstances of the accident.

The two young people, who are allowed to go out after classes, want to explore the 35,000m² building that has been abandoned for years. The old factory retains the characteristic architecture of 20th century French industry, reflecting the golden age of the textile industry in Pays d'Olmes. A place known to Lavelanetians, the students spread the word. Jules then wants to go to the location with his friend to do urbex, take photos and post them on social networks. They reach rue Jacquard, behind the Paul Bergère stadium, and enter through a gap in the wall.

“I was at the door that leads to the roof and he was already there. As he was coming back towards me, the roof collapsed under his feet,” says Roman*, his friend of the same age having accompanied him on the scene, still affected by the tragedy. The Lavelanetian then falls three floors onto a concrete slab and his friend calls for help. “We don't even imagine that this could happen,” confides Roman's mother, “we had forbidden them from entering the building. My son is very angry about it, we hope he will get through it.”

Wastelands, a headache for the municipality

The industrial site was the workplace of the holding company Financière textile de Lavelanet, bringing together Filature de Lavelanet and Teinture de Lavelanet. It accommodated nearly 650 employees during its period of activity. “The establishment has been closed for around twenty years. It’s a very large structure with asbestos, so it’s difficult to sell. If the town hall takes it back, we wouldn’t know what to do with it,” explains Marc Sanchez, the mayor of the town. Other wastelands were acquired by the municipality and transformed into a gymnasium or equipment depot.

“It's known that young people are squatting in the building. The whole area has been walled up, but it's big, we don't know how they get in. They even demolish concrete walls. But what happened to this young person is regrettable”, indicates the councilor. Exasperated by the vandalism affecting street furniture – trash cans, concrete slabs, stands – he specifies that he devotes €200,000 per year to their maintenance.