A major canal breach in Shropshire has left several narrowboats stranded for over a week, with a complex recovery operation now underway. The incident occurred on the historic Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch, causing significant disruption and requiring emergency rescues.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Recovery
The "significant breach" happened in the early hours of Monday, December 22, along the Llangollen Canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch. Emergency services were swiftly called to the scene after the canal's 200-year-old embankment collapsed, creating a giant sinkhole measuring approximately 50 metres by 50 metres.
At least 10 people needed to be rescued from their vessels following the breach, which occurred shortly after 4.40am. Three narrowboats were engulfed by the collapsing earth and water. New aerial pictures released this week show the boats still in situ, with emergency workers using boat turners and winches in a delicate operation to retrieve them.
Pumps have been deployed to manage water levels in the surrounding canal network and prevent further catastrophic flooding. Workers have also begun the crucial task of securing the ruined banks to stabilise the area.
Eyewitness Account of the Chaos
One narrowboat resident, Phil Johnson, 56, described waking to the sounds of "cracking and banging." He quickly dressed and went to investigate. "I saw the water flying past the boat at horrendous speed," Mr Johnson said. "I could hear like a waterfall around the corner from my boat."
He was met with a harrowing sight: a boat stuck in the breach and being flooded. He then watched a second vessel teeter on the edge before slowly falling into the hole. "It's awful to say but it reminded me of that horrible scene from the Titanic film," he recounted. "It was horrible." Mr Johnson returned to his own boat to grab clothes but was "frightened to death" as it felt like it would tip over, calling it "one of the scariest things of my life."
Official Statement and Path Forward
Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Canal and River Trust, provided an update on the situation. "Now the initial emergency response... has passed, our teams have been working hard to refill the Llangollen Canal around the site of the breach," he stated. This work has allowed some boats in the area to refloat and will help restore navigation.
Mr Robb confirmed one narrowboat, the Pacemaker, had been successfully recovered from the edge of the breach overnight. He acknowledged that breaches of this scale are "relatively rare, but, when they do occur, they're expensive and complicated to fix."
Engineers are investigating the cause of the embankment failure and drawing up repair plans. The Canal and River Trust has pledged to provide regular updates to the local and boating community in the coming weeks. Mr Robb expressed thanks for the support from Shropshire Council for those affected, including their pets, and confirmed ongoing support for the boat owners.
