THIS is the dramatic moment a canal boat teeters on the edge before being swallowed by a gaping 164ft-wide sinkhole.
Ten people were rescued and a major incident declared after the ground caved underneath a canal in Whitchurch, Shropshire in the early hours.
Emergency services were scrambled to rescue those on board three narrowboats – which were sucked into the cavern in the Chemistry area.
A large section of the canal was completely drained – with canal boats left beached on the bed of the waterway.
Shocking footage, taken during the early hours yesterday morning, shows the shocking moment one boat succumbs to the vast sinkhole.
It is initially shown teetering on the edge, as the rear of the boat continues to rise up.
The boat then gradually slips deeper into the cavernous hole, with wood heard snapping and creaking under the pressure.
Moments later, torch light reveals the boat has slipped metres below – with fast-flowing water seen surging past the stranded vessel.
Paul Smith-Storey, creator of YouTube channel Narrowboat Life Unlocked, filmed the dramatic clip while in his own boat.
Paul had been moored just yards from the sinkhole when he was awoken by loud noises.
The sinkhole caused the banks of the canal to collapse and gallons of water to pour out into the surrounding land.
Nearby Bob Wood, 75, had woken up to go to the toilet when he noticed his boat drifting and “leaning”.
He told MailOnline: “I was in the boat asleep and I thought I needed to go to the toilet so I got up and thought ‘we are leaning a bit’.
“I opened the back door to see why we were tilting and realised it was not raining at all and it was the water running away under the boat.
“I jumped on the back and stepped off and that bit was going down at that second. The back went eight feet in the air and I landed on my front.”
A “multi-agency” response was set up to deal with the major incident – co-ordinated through the Shropshire Tactical Co-ordination Group.
West Mercia Police said no injuries had been reported.
The force added: “A major incident has been declared in Shropshire following reports of a sinkhole affecting a canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch.
“Emergency services are currently on scene, and a multi-agency response has been set up, co-ordinated through the Shropshire Tactical Co-ordination Group (TCG).
“There are currently no reports of any casualties, and residents are being assisted by the fire service.
“We ask that people avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Further updates will be provided when we are able to do so.”
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said they received reports of a canal bank collapse with large volumes of water escaping into surrounding land.
Six fire crews, from Whitchurch, Prees, Shrewsbury, Newport, Albrighton and Telford, all raced to the scene alongside cops and paramedics.
A major incident was declared at around 5am, around an hour after the first reports of the collapse under the canal came flooding in.
Approximately 12 residents from nearby moored boats are being supported.
Yesterday, they were relocated to a welfare centre at the former Whitchurch Police Station.
Local had been urged to avoid the area as crews dealt with the chaotic clean up.
An emergency closure was put in place along the canal between Lock 6 Grindley Locks and Bridge 31A, Whitchurch By-Pass bridge.
A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust (CRT) said: “Please be advised that due to an incident, there is an emergency closure in place between Lock 6 Grindley Locks and Bridge 31A, Whitchurch By-Pass bridge.
“Please do not approach from either direction and we will provide an update in due course.”
