Police plea after hire boat crash
Wednesday 25th April 2012Police have described the actions of vandals who untied mooring ropes to a vessel in Great Yarmouth causing it to crash into a bridge as reckless and life-threatening.
The ropes were pulled from a hire cruiser moored at the Yacht Station in Tar Works Road on Monday, between 3am and 4am.
The vessel drifted with the tide and crashed into Vauxhall Bridge, damaging the hull and roof fittings. The ropes became tangled in the engine propellers, sparking a rescue operation led by Yarmouth Coastguard involving police and Gorleston RNLI.
PC Paul Bassham, from Norfolk Constabulary’s Broads Beat team, said the outcome could have been a lot worse. “This was a very frightening experience for the four holiday makers who were onboard at the time of the incident. Fortunately, one of the passengers is an experienced boat handler and was able to take control of the situation and call the Coastguard for help.
“To remove mooring ropes from a vessel is completely irresponsible and not only endangers the lives of those onboard but the lives of other river users.I would urge anyone who may have witnessed people acting suspiciously in the area around the times stated to contact police.”
Anyone with information should contact PC Bassham at Broads Beat on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
