EastEnders star Sid Owen's boat, which he crashed just 20 minutes after being handed the keys, was pictured being towed from Sunbury Lock at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on Bank Holiday Monday. The actor, 54, managed to write off his vessel, named Rolling On The River, and scuppered his latest business venture in a drunken incident, though he has staunchly denied that he was inebriated.
Blame Game
Sid instead blamed a 'dodgy fan belt' as the cause for the crash, a claim that was laughed off by the vessel's former owner, Mark Hayes. Men in high-vis jackets were spotted removing the sunken boat from the Thames, using ropes to pull it from its partially submerged position.
The accident occurred on Monday, just 20 minutes after Sid was handed the keys in a Surbiton pub, according to Mr Hayes. Mr Hayes claims Sid's business partner purchased the 'Rolling on the River' last Thursday with the intention of renting it out to day-trippers.
Conflicting Accounts
However, sources close to the soap veteran claim a mechanical fault caused the cruiser to drift into a river bank and hit a tree, tearing a hole in the hull during its first outing with the actor behind the wheel. After crashing the boat, Sid was seen fleeing the scene, and witnesses claim he looked worse for wear.
Insiders said that Sid is now locked in a 'dispute' with the former owner amid uncertainty over who will pay for the ship to be removed from the Thames, potentially facing a hefty fine from the Environment Agency for abandoning a semi-submerged boat.
Former Owner's Accusations
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Mr Hayes says the Ricky Butcher star is solely to blame for the boat's demise. He said: 'Sid drove the boat like an idiot, that's why it sank. He took the boat for a spin about 20 minutes after I gave him the keys after he'd been on the beers.'
'I sent Sid a few videos showing him how to operate the vessel and told him not to even attempt to drive it until he watched them. But he clearly ignored my advice and just floored it, which forced the back of the boat to dip down and smash something in the water.'
Mr Hayes claims after receiving a panicked call from Sid, he sent a mechanic down to assess the damage and determined the gearbox had been knocked out, causing the boat to sink. The ex-owner added: 'Sid's lied, it wasn't a dodgy fan belt, it was his dodgy driving.'
Financial Details
Mr Hayes claims Sid paid £10,000 for the boat, not £30,000 as originally reported, and says he has the sales invoice and receipts to prove it. He also alleges Sid did not have relevant driving experience, saying the former I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star had only previously used 'go-boats on Kingston river.'
Sid purchased the boat with a business partner with the intention of renting it out to day-trippers. An Instagram account advertising the boat's VIP tours shows photos of the vessel's interiors and of it moored at a marina with instructions to 'DM for prices and dates.'
The second-hand vessel, which is worth £115,000 new, is now a 'total write off' having gradually submerged into the Thames.
Witness Account
One witness said: 'There was an almighty banging noise. Next thing, the boat has run aground close to the river bank and someone was climbing out — I couldn't believe it when I realised who it was. He's very recognisable, and I just knew him straight away as Ricky from EastEnders. It looked as though he'd had a few beers — and he didn't stick around to deal with it. He was quickly on his way!'
Sid's Career
Sid's acting career took off in 1988 when he joined EastEnders, before he first left in 2012, after his character broke up with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). He made a comeback for guest appearances in 2022 and 2023 after a whole decade away and reprised his role as the mechanic, before leaving screens again in 2023. His last acting job aside from EastEnders was in the short film Angels And Cowboys, which premiered back in 2016. He has made a number of reality TV appearances over the years on shows such as Celebrity MasterChef and Channel 4's Banged Up.
