WOOLWICH: Boat rescue after crash near Thames Barrier (From News Shopper)

WOOLWICH: Boat rescue after crash near Thames Barrier

8:38am Monday 6th September 2010 in

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A RESCUE operation was launched to stop a boat from sinking after it hit a buoy near the Thames Barrier.

The collision caused a two foot gash in the side of the vessel and it was steadily taking on water when emergency services were called.

A London Fire Brigade boat helped police boats to pump the water out to prevent it from sinking.

Firefighters from across the News Shopper area were also called to the scene shortly after the incident which happened at around 11.45pm on Saturday (September 4).

In total just over 30 firefighters were there for around 90 minutes.

It is believed the boat was being operated either by the Port of London Authority or the Environment Agency from the Barrier Gardens Pier.

There were said to be three people on board at the time of the collision.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said the vessel was around 15m long and weighed 14 tonnes.