Boating Enthusiast’s Vessel Destroyed by Thames Current

An individual passionate about boating recounted witnessing his cruiser, which he had possessed for two decades, break apart after being carried off by the rapidly moving River Thames. “When I saw our lovely boat just smashing into the weir like that – oh my God, it’s heart stopping,” Andy Ellison said. The vessel, named Salamar, was dislodged from its docking point near Mr. Ellison’s residence in Wraysbury, Berkshire, on Thursday. This occurred after significant precipitation led to an increase in river levels. Footage captured the remains of the 23ft-long (7m) craft as they were transported by the current and collided with a lock. Flood warnings and alerts persist for the Thames and the River Pang within Berkshire, subsequent to intense rainfall associated with Storm Bert and Storm Conall. Mr. Ellison mentioned he was on his way back from London when neighbors contacted him to inform him about his boat’s fate. “But at the same time nobody’s hurt or injured,” he said.”I am still alive and I can carry on with loads of other stuff so that is just another part of my life just gone.“There’s such a good community and they watched everything going down the river.” Subsequently, he received video recordings showing the boat drifting downstream, ultimately arriving at Bell Weir Lock in Runnymede, Surrey. He informed BBC Radio Berkshire that the river had been “running really dangerously” for a period. “I am not sure why the river’s been so bad for the last two years and whether it’s going to get worse in the future,” he continued.“We were completely flooded two years ago and we have had to have all our floors taken up.” The current location of the debris is unknown, but Mr. Ellison speculates it might be located further downstream at Teddington Lock. The Environment Agency released 45 advisories for the River Thames on Thursday, cautioning boat operators against navigation due to powerful currents. Alerts were active for the Thames in the areas of Shiplake, Lower Shiplake, Wargrave, Henley, Remenham, and Medmenham. Additional alerts were disseminated for the stretch of the Thames from Pangbourne to Purley, alongside another for the River Pang spanning from East Ilsley to Pangbourne and Sulham Brook. For updates, BBC Berkshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.