A WOMAN lost her life when she was crushed between a narrowboat and the quay after falling in the water.
Margaret Billings, 78, was trapped between the narrowboat and the quay at Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal, Keith Gudgin reports.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court was told she died soon after becoming stuck, despite being rescued from the water by her husband on the 27th June last year.
Boating for many years
Her husband, Michael, told that they had been boating for many years and he had been mooring-up, telling Margaret to wait whilst the boat was nearer the bank, but she appeared to step off and fell into the water as the boat was coming into the side, he hearing a cry and seeing a splash, explaining to the court:
"I did not see her leave contact with the boat and didn't know what was going on.
"I looked over the boat to see Margaret facing me in the water and the boat closing in to the bank rapidly. There was nothing I could do."
Margaret was rescued by her husband and friends before paramedics arrived at the scene, but Margaret could not be saved despite all the efforts.
The post-mortem examination found she died from injuries consistent with being trapped between the boat and the side of the canal, with area coroner, Ian Singleton, recording a conclusion of accidental death, he telling:
Regarded as experienced
"On June 27 2024 Margaret Billings was travelling with family and friends on a canal boat heading towards Bradford upon Avon. Margaret had been on some 20 similar journeys in the past and was regarded as experienced.
"As the boat approached Devizes, Margaret was stood on the boat some 3ft away from the stern holding on with one hand.
"In circumstances that remain unclear, Margaret left the boat and was in the water between the boat that was under power and the bank with the distance between the two rapidly diminishing.
"Margaret was caught between the canal boat and the bank, which caused extensive injuries to her chest and head. Margaret was pulled from the water and despite the efforts of paramedics was pronounced deceased at the scene."