A dramatic canal failure in England’s West Midlands triggered a major emergency after a 50-metre-long breach opened suddenly in the Llangollen Canal, pulling multiple boats into a deep cavity. Emergency services initially described the collapse as a sinkhole and moved quickly to secure the area as vessels were left hanging precariously or trapped below.
One boater, 75-year-old Bob Wood, narrowly escaped after waking to the sound of rushing water and noticing his boat tilting. He jumped ashore and alerted neighbouring crews moments before the canal gave way. Authorities confirmed the waterway had previously been classified as an “amber risk,” raising fresh concerns over infrastructure monitoring, public safety, and the resilience of ageing canal networks across the UK.
