River Severn narrowboat swept away
[gallery] This narrowboat had a narrow escape as the washed-out start to summer reached new heights in the Midlands.
This narrowboat had a narrow escape as the washed-out start to summer reached new heights in the Midlands.
The empty 14-ton craft was swept over a weir by raging flood waters that raced down the swollen River Severn.
Click on the image to the right for more photos
A water rescue boat managed to pluck the owner to safety as the elements took hold.
The 60ft long boat got wedged against a pontoon but was then dislodged and carried away by the rising flood water.
The torrent swept it over a 15ft weir and there were fears that it could be wrecked before help arrived in the nick of time.
Crews from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service put a giant chain of orange buoys across the river.
This stopped it continuing its drift towards disaster down the river towards Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire.
Fire Station Commander Dan Quinn said: "Once the owner had been rescued, we looked at how to recover the boat but due to the flood warnings in place and the risk of increased water flows on the River Severn, it was decided to leave it where it was overnight."
The rescue came amid grim predictions that June will be a wash out with more rain forecast for the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
Downfalls are expected to return tomorrow afternoon, with heavy rain expected to batter the region throughout the rest of the week.
Gusts of wind are predicted to reach up to 35mph and experts say it will be unusually cool for the time of year, with temperatures likely to rise no higher than 16C (60F). More rain is expected for the rest of the month with temperatures no higher than 19C (66F).
