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On Boxing Day, those impacted by the significant canal collapse on Monday gathered to reflect on the disruption caused, with some boat owners expressing gratitude simply for surviving the event. The incident occurred when an embankment along the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch, Shropshire, gave way, releasing vast amounts of water. This collapse carved a deep trench into the canal bed, causing several narrowboats to fall into the enormous cavity. Some vessels remained dangerously close to the edge or tipped as the water drained away.
Despite the absence of physical injuries, many of the affected boaters emphasized how profoundly their lives had been unsettled, as their boats also serve as their homes. Feelings of shock were still prevalent among those caught up in the disaster. However, a positive response emerged amid the upheaval. The couple behind the Narrowboat Life Unlocked YouTube channel, which chronicles their experiences living on the water, organized an online fundraising campaign to assist the most severely affected boat owners. By Saturday, donations had already surpassed £65,000.
Paul and Anthony, the creators of the channel, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the generosity shown. Though their own boat leaned precariously as water evacuated the canal, efforts by the Canal and River Trust to pump water back enabled them to stay afloat, even though they had to relocate temporarily. On Christmas Day, they joined other boaters for a festive lunch hosted by Caroline and Pete, a couple featured on the Facebook account One Day More Aboard. Caroline and Pete, who returned to England from Texas to live aboard their narrowboat, opened their home for the gathering, providing a welcome distraction from the stress caused by the canal breach.
Though Caroline and Pete were not directly affected by the collapse, they described the event as “a wonderful day with our boating besties” and a much-needed respite from the ongoing worry. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, everyone’s thoughts remained focused on the consequences of the breach. The fundraising supported those living on the two narrowboats that fell into the trench—fortunately unoccupied at the time—as well as the owners of a boat that had been left teetering on the edge of the hole. More details about the incident have come to light since Monday morning, revealing the extent of the turmoil experienced by those involved.
In a social media update, Narrowboat Life Unlocked shared conversations with the boat owners, highlighting how drastically their circumstances had changed. One owner recounted attempting to step off his vessel in darkness, only to fall when he realized his boat was elevated eight to ten feet off the ground and slipping into the breach. He quickly alerted fellow boaters to vacate their boats. The family living on the other boat, captured on video as it tipped into the hole, was able to escape to the towpath, which they described as feeling unstable “like jelly.” They had been working on restoring their boat for two years. Another couple, fearing their boat might also be lost, trekked for over an hour through muddy fields at night to reach emergency services.
The boat that had remained hanging over the canal edge has now been safely hauled away. The Canal and River Trust has previously informed the BBC that repairs will likely take several months and could run into millions of pounds. However, there is still no confirmed timeline regarding the recovery of the other stranded narrowboats
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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