THE woman that was on the boat with the man who died in Lock 5 on the Droitwich Canal tells that the boat's rudder had caught in the lock allowing water to pour onto the boat and sink it.
Jean Green, the mother of the man who died, told BBC News:
"I've had a look at the boat now it's out of the water and there are marks on the rudder where it had stuck in a gap on the lock gates. That stopped it going up when they let the water in. It was an accident waiting to happen and it has happened."
Trapped inside
People from Canal & River Trust have examined the lock and can find nothing wrong with it, but are carrying out a full investigation.
She tells that her son, Allan Green, who lives on Sonskit with her, had rescued her and the dog and went down to attempt to get valuables as the boat went down and he was trapped inside. He was regarded as an experienced boater.
Sank within minutes
A spokesman for River Canal Rescue, Pete Barnet, that raised the boat out of the lock told that it probably sank within two minutes.
There is no information as to who was working the lock paddles and why they were not 'dropped' immediately the boat was seen to be in trouble or if the boat had the required rope fender protecting the rudder.