The couple, named in the media as Richard Lucas, 85 and his wife Mary, 83 were from Lincoln, but owned a second home in the Dordogne area, which is popular among Brits.
The pair drowned in their Mercedes car after it veered off the road into the Dronne river at a dangerous junction on the D78 road towards the village of Brantôme on Friday morning. The road follows the river closely at certain parts.
According to reports, the car crashed through trees after it left the road on a bend, before flipping over. The vehicle ended up completely submerged in the river.
Rescuers dived into the river in an attempt to save the couple but their attempts were in vain. The couple, who were believed to have been wearing seat belts, were already dead.
They owned a house in the village of Paussac-et-Saint-Vivien, just a short drive from the scene of the crash.
Police believe the driver of the car lost control momentarily, but do not know how. An investigation into the crash has been launched.
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