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Boat owner says he is a 'plonker'
A man who sparked a dramatic rescue involving more than 20 firefighters and a specialist water rescue team after getting his boat stuck under a bridge has described himself as "a plonker".
Five crews, including the specialist team from Wellingborough, battled for three hours to free Andrew Furnival's 65ft narrow boat after he crashed it against the Station Road bridge, near Irthlingborough.
The Environment Agency had warned boats not to travel on the River Nene yesterday because of the strong current.
Unemployed Andrew Furnival, 44, of Cambridge, said: "It's really stupid. As I approached the bridge the current was stronger than I realised.
"It's quite a narrow arch and as I tried to manoeuvre the boat the current took me round into the arches.
"I feel like a complete plonker."
Only one arch of the old bridge can be used and the River Nene's rising waters caused by melting snow made the passage even trickier.
The strong current pinned Mr Furnival's eight-tonne barge against the bridge and the firefighters, aided by Environment Agency officers, tried several methods to free it.
A total of 17 firefighters pulling from an island in the middle of the river failed to pull the barge free.
In the end, a combination of a 4x4 vehicle's winch on one bank, the firefighters pulling on the island and the barge's engine managed to pull it back in line with the current and through the arch – three hours after it had crashed.
Crowds of people stood on the banks and the A6 bridge to watch the rescue and a cheer went up as the boat was finally released.
Frank Murphy, 51, of Finedon, who also has a narrow boat, said: "I have never seen anything like this on a boat. "What is he doing out there in this with a flat bottomed boat?"
Stella Luty, 69, of Rushden, who had been walking at Stanwick Lakes, said: "I think it's ridiculous. He shouldn't have been there in the first place.
"He should be made to pay the cost."
Jack Rickard, 61, of Rushden, who had been out taking photographs, said: "I don't really believe he should travel in conditions like this.
"It's a popular bridge.
"They should make it safe."
PCSO Michael Pearce, who came across the boat on a routine patrol and called the fire service, said: "It was just fortunate for the gentleman in question that we were down here."
Following the incident, an Environment Agency spokesman said: "We had a strong stream warning on the Nene yesterday, which advises boats not to travel on the river because it's too strong. The gentleman seems not to have understood what a strong stream warning was."
Mr Furnival will be interviewed by the Environment Agency today.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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