Group stranded after River Severn boat runs aground
Tuesday 10th August 2010, 9:54AM BST.
More than 50 people from a Shropshire arthritis group were left stranded on the River Severn for about five hours after the boat they were celebrating on ran aground.
Members of The Telford Arthritis Society were stuck aboard Sabrina, The Goddess of the River, after low water levels caused the boat to snag on the river bank, near the West Midlands Showground in Shrewsbury.
They had been enjoying a group day out when the boat hit the banks, just after 9pm, on Friday evening.
Police were called to the incident and five separate journeys had to made with a small motor boat to ferry the passengers to safety via a harbour near the showground.
After being brought to safety they were guided by police officers through the showground in the dark to their coach, before leaving for home at 2am on Saturday morning.
Barbara Maddox, 66, from Wrockwardine Wood, said spirits remained high throughout the ordeal which brought out a “war-time camaraderie”.
She said: “We had just had our barbecue down the river and the boat got stuck near the showground. They managed to tie some ropes around it and with the engine on they managed to pull it out.
“But then it got stuck again and they tried with all their might to free it but it wouldn’t come loose. The emergency services were called but the staff aboard the boat were fantastic.”
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That was a particularly memorable night out! Paula and I had a great evening out on the boat and running aground added to the evening.
Hats off to the crew of the Sabrina for getting us landlubbers back in one piece!
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Is it not about time that the NRA decided to do much needed dredging on the River Severn and many other rivers we would not have such severe floods. When was the last time the river severn was dredged? Well done to the skipper of the Sabina and crew.
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