I finally have hope, says boater whose home sank
A boater who was made homeless after his canal boat sank has said he “finally has hope for the future” after a difficult few months.
James Stuart-wigley, who is in his 40s, lost his canal boat home after it sank when a sluice gate broke in Twerton on September 15.
He only had time to fling his two dogs and laptop to safety before the boat slipped under and his home was left looking like a disaster movie with his possessions left ruined after being soaked in dirty water.
Mr Stuart-wigley has been staying in a hotel houseboat with his dogs since October and has been hunting for a new home since.
After months of boat searching and feeling in “limbo”, Mr StuartWigley has finally found a new boat which is “bigger and better” than his previous one.
He said: “I have found a new boat, I finally have some positive news and I’m just so relieved it’s come at just the right time.
“I’m still on the houseboat hotel,
which has been fine as I’ve been boat hunting, and I’ve found a suitable one in Wiltshire. I haven’t bought it yet but am in the process of doing that.
“With the compensation money and the Go Fund Me money I can get one which is bigger and better than before. It’s just amazing that me and my two doggies will have a proper home again.”
The compensation money is from the Environment Agency, which is responsible for the sluice gate, and a Go Fund Me page was set up for James by friends which has raised £4,200 at the time of writing.
The disaster took all of Mr StuartWigley’s belongs and his home, which has been tough for the fitness instructor.
Mr Stuart-wigley said: “It’s not been easy mentally these last few months but I have been looked after.
“It’s been fraught at times and really tenuous – I just didn’t know if I was going to find a boat or where it was going to come from.”
He said he had been touched by how much the boating community and locals in Bath had come together to help him.
“I have been comfortable on the hotel houseboat and the Environment Agency have been good, they’ve done right by checking up on us all affected and helping us.
“I finally have hope for the future and am keeping positive.”
Ian Withers, of the Environment Agency, said: “We took responsibility for the fault at the Twerton Sluice gate when it occurred in September this year, and have remained fully committed to the process to financially recompense all those who were affected.
“We have supported all boaters who suffered losses to their property and possessions, and arranged for any damage to boats to be surveyed and repaired.”