A retired American couple's idyllic plan for their first Christmas living on a narrow boat has been dramatically scuppered after a giant sinkhole tore open a canal in Shropshire, leaving their vessel listing precariously and forcing them into a hotel.
Dreams Dashed in the Dead of Night
Geoff and Pamela Poole, who had recently moved from the United States to embark on a new life afloat, were just three boats away from the catastrophic breach on the Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch. The couple were awoken at 4:20am on Monday morning by frantic neighbours knocking on their door.
"The whole boat was listing and everything had fallen," Pamela Poole told the BBC. She described a scene of festive disarray, having just watched 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' before the disaster. "I saw the Christmas tree on the floor with broken ornaments." The pair had been aboard for just two-and-a-half months and had lovingly decorated their new home with a small tree, lights, and a homemade wreath.
A Major Incident Unfolds on the Shropshire Union Canal
The 50-metre-long sinkhole opened on the Shropshire Union Canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch, causing large volumes of water to drain away. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident following reports at 4.22am. Three narrow boats were caught in the breach, with aerial images showing one vessel partially hanging over the edge of the drop.
Emergency crews successfully rescued more than 10 people from the scene. Among them was 75-year-old Bob Wood, who had a narrow escape from his own listing boat. He woke thinking he needed the toilet, only to discover his craft tilting severely. "I opened the back door... and realised it was not raining at all and it was the water running away under the boat," he recounted. "I jumped on the back and stepped off, and that bit was going down at that second."
Christmas Plans Washed Away
For the Pooles, the incident marks a devastating end to their carefully laid plans. "We literally retired, left two kids back in the States, flew over here, bought the boat back in May and then spent months getting it ready," Geoff Poole said. "That’s the end of our plans for the winter."
Although they will still be able to visit family on Christmas Day, the couple now face spending the festive period in a hotel, as they have no spare bed ashore. Their dream of a cosy, illuminated Christmas on the water has been replaced by the stark reality of a major engineering failure and an uncertain future for their floating home.
