Narrow boat finally rescued from Kennet and Avon Canal

An operation to move a narrow boat which had been stuck in a city centre lock since Saturday has finished a success. Engineers successfully managed to free the section of boat which was stuck of the lock gate, which had caused the vessel to capsize. The boat then briefly sank below the water, before the water inside was pumped away, allowing it to float to the surface. Joe Coggins, from the Canal and River Trust, spoke to the Chronicle at around 4.30pm and said the operation had been a success. He said: "We have successfully re-floated the boat, the lock is now clear and the canal will be reopened to all boat traffic tomorrow morning." Experts have been on the site all week trying to decide how best to get the narrow boat out. The vessel, a hire boat belonging to Alvechurch Boat Hire based in Worcester, became stuck in the Widcombe lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal on Saturday afternoon.

Work starts to salvage boat stricken in Bath @CanalRiverTrustpic.twitter.com/uDteHePAH7

— CRT Press Team (@CRTComms) March 20, 2014

The Canal and River Trust had originally thought it would have to drain a section of the canal and use cranes to lift the 49 foot boat but this idea was rejected because the tow path along the Bath flight of locks is not strong enough to bear the weight.

Crane and air cushion rescue unit setting up at lock 11 #Bath#OperationUprightpic.twitter.com/jmBXZXbQho

— Paul Mutton (@paulmutton) March 20, 2014

Boat has now righted itself, removal is next pic.twitter.com/iaDcxxgTgK

— Kennet & Avon Canal (@KandAinfo) March 20, 2014

The narrow boat was negotiating a lock at Widcombe at around 2pm on Saturday when the incident happened. A spokeswoman for Alvechurch Boat Hire said the narrow boat had been hired for the weekend by three men who were said to be experienced boaters. She added that the group were trained how to use the boat. "We are audited by the British Marine Federation. All our customers are given a DVD to watch and are shown how to operate the boat." Paul Clements, who watched the drama unfold, said: "It hooked its stern on the gate ledge, tilted forward as the water was let out of the lock. The guy panicked and jumped off as it rolled over." The Bath flight of locks is now impassable and many boats have been seen queuing either end. Jonathan Ludford, from the Trust, added: "This will be frustrating for anyone wanting to go up or down the flight. "Fortunately given the number of boats and UK canals this is quite a rare thing to happen."

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