Whitchurch canal collapse: 'Everything we've got is on that boat' says artist left in limbo with his family's home perched on breach's edge
An artist whose boat was almost swallowed up in the Whitchurch canal collapse says he has been left with little more than the clothes on his back.
Two boats that had been moored on the Llangollen Canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch fell into the breach that suddenly opened up early on Monday, and a third remains perched on the edge of the 50-metre hole.
The owner of Pacemaker, the boat currently hanging precariously over the precipice, is artist Paul Stowe, who lives on board full-time with his wife, son, and two cats.
"Something woke me about 4am, I don't know what it was, but something wasn't right," he said.
"I looked out of the window and the most amazing torrent of water was flowing past the boat, it was equivalent to Niagara Falls coming past the boat.
"I rushed to the stern, opened the doors and I could see the boat behind me at 90 degrees where the embankment had gone.
"There was water and mud flowing everywhere."
After ensuring his family was safe, Paul went back onto the boats to save their two cats, but the family escaped barefoot and with none of their possessions.
Paul explained how, until less than 18 hours prior, another boat had been moored just behind Pacemaker in the spot that is now a gaping chasm.
Fortunately for the owners, they had decided to move on at around midday on Sunday.
"I cannot believe we all got off those three boats with our lives intact, it's pure luck - nothing else," Paul added.
"People think it's just a boat, but it's not. It's our home, it just happens to be boat-shaped.
"Everything we've got is on that boat and everything I'm wearing is now all I've got."
The issue isn't purely a material one for the family, as both Paul and his wife are working artists. The boat, currently in too precarious a position to access, also has several commissions on board.
Paul added: "It's my livelihood - I've had to close all of the websites I sell my art on.
"But we're safe, we're together and that's the important thing."
In the hours after the horrific incident, the family were provided with a narrowboat, courtesy of local rental company Cheshire Cat.
While they'll have a roof over their head for Christmas Day - which also happens to be Paul's birthday - Paul said the trauma of the evening will stay with them for much longer.
"I haven't slept in 24 hours and I don't know whether I'll sleep again."
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