Boats caught in floods

WITH most of the navigable rivers in flood, there have been many boats trapped  in the rising waters.

Many boats have broken free of their moorings in the recent floods, with one sunk  in the flooded Thames at Oxford, breaking free of its moorings and rammed against the barriers at Osney Lock, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Swept from moorings

Two boats taking shelter on the Severn at Upton were swept from their moorings yesterday (Thursday), with both being yet to be retrieved further down river.

Rose swiftly

It was fire crews who rescued a boat that was left moored at Bath but as the river rose swiftly it was left to fire crews to rescue the boat as it was badly listing and being pulled over, the owner, Edward Martin, having left it unattended.

Though he left it on slack lines, it was reported to the authorities as being pulled under, and in danger of sinking as the water kept rising, so fire fighters attended to loosen the lines, though there was little more they could do until the level drops.

The problem is that the boat is actually over the towpath as can be seen in Sam Farr's photograph, above, so has to be pushed back to the river once the level drops.