Boat Hits Henley Bridge - Road Closed & Central Arch Closed

[Harleyford_S37]

Sometime this afternoon a cruiser hit the central arch of Henley Bridge. It seems to have dislodged some of the stonework and the bridge is now closed to vehicle traffic and the central arch closed to navigation.

Apparently a crew member on the boat was air lifted to hospital after having been hit by the falling stonework.

Pictures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Ih0VUqkus

 

[byron]

Really looking forward to the Pics.

 

[BrendanS]

I missed the actual crash, I was there a bit earlier, but discovered the bridge was closed when driving through Henley a bit later, and no idea what had caused the problem, so just been on google and found the news, and then noticed this thread.

 

[sarabande]

BrendanS - why aren't you being flayed alive, roasted, pickled in a butt of Malmsey, and utterly devastated to boot ?

or have you dealt with all that before breakfast ?

 

[BrendanS]

The piratesses took me for a walk on the banks of the Thames. The dog collar and lead chaffed a bit in the heat though.

 

[sarabande]

regards to both.

 

[Harleyford_S37]

Pictures -

Here is a link to a short video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Ih0VUqkus

The EA boat is putting blue police tape around the central arch and the Carver has several large pieces of stone from the bridge in the cockpit

 

[apollo]

Bridge is open again now.
EA turned up with flashing lights and breaking waves wash......about two hours after it happened, flash or what!

 

[teddington_lock]

Richard and I used to slap the face as we went under Henley Bridge on my old mans boat many many years ago ....

Here we are , getting ready to slap ....

 

[Richard Shead]

Jeeez....

Richard and I used to slap the face as we went under Henley Bridge on my old mans boat many many years ago ....

Here we are , getting ready to slap ....

Who is that skinny chap driving?

I thought of that photo when i saw this post! Was trying to find the Cookham one to show you can squeeze under in almost anything

 

[teddington_lock]

We were all thin back then mate ...

Here's Cookham Bridge , i seem to remember climbing onto it and jumping down the other side too ...

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I recall a freind doing that on the Trent and Mersey canal at Great Heywood. He had taken refreshment and thought it a wizard jape to jump onto the bridge from the front of the narro boat and off again onto the stern. He failed to spot it was a road bridge, he waited for the cars to apss and vaulted the parapet. The spalsh was quite large and I regret to say we left him in for a few moments while we laughed.

 

[nickcred]

anyone heard if the guy airlifted to hospital is ok, sounded nasty, seems the falling masonary hit him on the head, hope he is ok

 

[Mark M]

Hi Guys

Heres an updated link that actually shows the boat going through, which is something which is every boaters nightmare!! hope the guy is ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOsKPaa1EU&feature=related

 

[byron]

Hi Guys

Heres an updated link that actually shows the boat going through, which is something which is every boaters nightmare!! hope the guy is ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOsKPaa1EU&feature=related

Interesting! Is the Canoeist to be prosecuted ?

 

[boatone]

Interesting! Is the Canoeist to be prosecuted ?

Errrrr....... Why ?

 

[byron]

Errrrr....... Why ?

Well, I am assuming the Cruiser was using the wrong arch because the central one was hogged by the Canoeist who did not have 'right of way'.

 

[shades]

The cruiser hit the central arch - there are 5 arches in Henley Bridge, this can be seen in the original footage.
There should not be wanted posters looking for the canoeist, as he was not to blame. The canoeist went through the second arch (counting from the Henley side) NOT the centre arch.
Incidently, I have heard that the skipper who had part of the bridge bounce off his head was not seriously injured. He was airlifted to hospital because it was a head injury.

 

[Richard Shead]

I dont get

The cruiser hit the central arch - there are 5 arches in Henley Bridge, this can be seen in the original footage.
There should not be wanted posters looking for the canoeist, as he was not to blame. The canoeist went through the second arch (counting from the Henley side) NOT the centre arch.
Incidently, I have heard that the skipper who had part of the bridge bounce off his head was not seriously injured. He was airlifted to hospital because it was a head injury.

How stuff fell as he did not hit bridge so must have been the inside of it?

 

[shades]

My guess would be that the vessel was caught out by the twist that can occurr when halfway through the bridge and hit it as he exited, pulling the facing stones from the leading edge. (I could have been a detective)