A 75-year-old man has described his narrow escape after a giant sinkhole opened up on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, swallowing several boats. Bob Wood said he woke up just in time to jump off his vessel and alert a neighbour as the ground gave way beneath them.
Emergency services declared a major incident after the 50-metre-long breach appeared near New Mills Lift Bridge in Whitchurch. Three boats were caught in the crater, with some left teetering on the edge and others at the bottom. There were no reported casualties, and crews helped more than 10 people to safety.
Wood, who has lived on his boat for eight years, said he initially thought he was in a storm but realised the water was draining away under the boat. He jumped off just as the back of his boat rose eight feet into the air. His neighbour also escaped moments before his craft went down backwards.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received reports of the collapse at 4.22am and worked in challenging conditions with unstable ground and rapidly moving water. The fire service area manager, Scott Hurford, said the situation was stable by 8.30am with no ongoing search and rescue activity.
The Canal and River Trust is investigating the cause of the breach, which occurred on a waterway previously flagged as an 'amber risk' by the Inland Waterways Association due to funding shortfalls and climate pressures. Sho Abdul, a Shropshire council cabinet member, described the lack of casualties as 'an absolute miracle'.
