--- In [email protected], "sean neill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >> Looks like sadly a boater fell into the cut whilst working a
lock
> >> and drowned. No names yet. Very sad.
> >
> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/5237268.stm
> >
> > Richard
> >
> Also on local news this evening - picture showed two Canaltime
boats
> with one across the cut. Item said 'no suspicious circumstances'.
>
> Sean
>
Full story, very sad.
Holidaymaker boat tragedy
Aug 3, 2006
A holidaymaker has died after falling from a narrowboat and becoming
trapped in its propeller on a canal near Lichfield.
The 59-year-old man was on a canal boat holiday with his wife,
daughter and son-in-law when he plunged into the water and became
caught under the vessel at Alrewas.
Paramedics battled to save him but he died at the scene, on the
Trent & Mersey Canal alongside The Old Boat restaurant, off Kings
Bromley Road.
The man, from Somerset, was manoeuvring the Canaltime Narrowboats
Timeshare boat below a lock when he fell into the water at about 4pm
on Tuesday.
A member of his family and a fellow boater managed to pull him out
of the water and onto the canal bank where paramedics battled to
save him but he died at the scene.
Fellow holidaymaker Julian Yates, who was on another Canaltime boat
behind, was one of the first people to arrive at the incident. He
said:"The man on the back of the narrowboat had somehow pitched into
the water and was trapped under the boat.
"The paramedics were here very quickly and they did all they could
to save him but, unfortunately, he died. It is very sad and
upsetting.
"I didn't see how he fell into the water but I think he was probably
trying to moor up in front of the lock and got into a bit of a
muddle.
"The boat was across the canal when I saw it, so he may have been
trying to reverse and then the boat bumped the bank when he went
forward, which could have been enough to tip him into the water."
Staffordshire Ambulance spokesman Bob Lee said:"It is a rare
occurrence to have a boating incident like this. Generally, boating
is quite a safe pastime."
The County Air Ambulance, two land ambulances, a doctor, the
paramedic response unit, fire crews and police were all called to
the scene. A Staffordshire Police spokesman said there were no
suspicious circumstances.
Officers cordoned off the scene while inquiries began into how the
incident happened, and health and safety officers from Lichfield
District Council have launched an investigation.
Representatives from British Waterways and the Canaltime Narrowboats
company also attended the scene.
Mick Finlan, who lives alongside the canal, said: "I don't think
we've ever heard of an accident like this happening on the canal
here before. It is all very sad."
Tim Matthews, Environmental Health Manager at Lichfield District
Council, said: "On Tuesday August 1, our Health and Safety team were
called out to an accident on the canal at Alrewas, where a man
tragically died.
"We are currently examining the facts surrounding the death, and in
the case the accident occurred during a work activity, we will
consider carrying out an investigation under the Health and Safety
at Work Act."
Debbi
nb TIAMI
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
