A quiet Shropshire morning was shattered before dawn as the Whitchurch Canal suffered a catastrophic collapse. Two narrowboats vanished into a newly formed sinkhole, a terrifying event captured on video as one vessel slowly tipped into the gaping void.
The first alarm came at 4:22 AM, waking Paul Smith-Storey just eighteen yards from the disaster. A jarring crash and the unsettling list of his own boat alerted him to the unfolding emergency. He quickly began documenting the scene, sharing footage online that would soon reveal the scale of the devastation.
Bob Wood, 75, was inside his boat when the ground gave way. Awakened by an urgent need, he discovered his vessel tilting precariously. He stepped onto the back deck just as it plunged downwards, narrowly avoiding being pulled into the chasm. “The back went eight foot in the air,” he recounted, “and I landed on my front.”
Driven by instinct, Wood raced to warn his neighbor, pounding on the hull until the startled boater emerged. Both boats succumbed to the pull, one nose-down, the other stern first, swallowed by the earth. The scene was one of sudden, shocking loss.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service finding themselves battling unstable ground and a torrent of escaping water. More than ten people were safely evacuated from the area, a testament to the rapid response of the crews.
The scale of the sinkhole is immense – approximately 50 meters by 50 meters. Firefighters worked tirelessly, establishing safety zones and attempting to control the flow of water with temporary barriers. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, though authorities are calling it a sinkhole.
Witnesses described the scene as resembling an earthquake. Local councillor Andy Hall spoke of a “couple of boats” lost, with one precariously balanced on the edge, threatening to follow. The impact extended beyond the canal itself, with millions of gallons of water flooding a nearby field.
Lorraine Barlow, aboard her boat The Singing Kettle, felt an unusual current and bubbling beneath her hull moments before the disaster. She described the unsettling sensation of her boat tilting and the mooring ropes tightening, prompting her to evacuate to safety.
The near-miraculous aspect of the event – that no one was seriously injured – was repeatedly emphasized. Sho Abdul, another local councillor, described the scene as “like an explosive had gone off,” and expressed relief that it hadn’t been a tragedy. The timing, just days before Christmas, added to the heartbreak.
The Whitchurch Canal is a vital artery for tourism, attracting visitors from around the globe. The breach represents a significant blow to local businesses and the wider canal network. Assessments are underway to determine the long-term impact and begin the arduous process of repair.
The Canal and River Trust has dammed off the affected section, closing the towpath and canal to the public. Initial investigations are focused on determining the cause of the breach, with a commitment to providing updates as they become available. Support is being offered to those affected, both boaters and residents.
For those who witnessed the event, the images of disappearing boats and the sheer force of the collapse will likely remain vivid for years to come. It was a stark reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of the landscapes we inhabit.
