Firecrews to rescue as canal barge starts sinking at locks (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Firecrews to rescue as canal barge starts sinking at locks
7:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in News
Firefighters were called to try to re-float a sinking canal barge at the Dowley Gap locks near Bingley yesterday.
Keighley and Bingley crews were called shortly after noon following reports a boat was sinking and the owners needed help.
They spent several hours pumping water out of the boat, as the back of the vessel was submerged in the shallow canal. Although a couple live on the barge, they managed to get off.
Fire crews managed to re-float the vessel. The cause of the incident is still being investigated by its owners.
Oil and fuel leaked into the canal, but British Waterways removed contaminants before they caused harm.
Crew commander Darren Creighton said: “We had pumps from Keighley, and Bingley’s water rescue equipment. There was a lot of interior damage.”
