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Queen's Jubilee barge Gloriana crashes into bridge | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Gloriana, the £1m barge which led the Queen's Jubilee Pageant, has crashed into a bridge. | |
The vessel hit Kew Bridge, south-west London, at about 19:00 BST on Thursday after apparent engine failure. | |
It was left with "superficial" damage to gilded wooden carvings down one side, while a wooden crown on the stern was knocked into the water. | It was left with "superficial" damage to gilded wooden carvings down one side, while a wooden crown on the stern was knocked into the water. |
The Chiswick RNLI lifeboat was called after the boat became trapped. It was eventually towed to Kew Pier. | The Chiswick RNLI lifeboat was called after the boat became trapped. It was eventually towed to Kew Pier. |
Describing the incident on its Facebook page, Chiswick RNLI said: "It appeared the Gloriana was travelling under its own power when both engines failed as it was passing Strand-on-the-Green. | Describing the incident on its Facebook page, Chiswick RNLI said: "It appeared the Gloriana was travelling under its own power when both engines failed as it was passing Strand-on-the-Green. |
"The incoming tide then carried the vessel upstream where it became wedged under the central span of the bridge. | "The incoming tide then carried the vessel upstream where it became wedged under the central span of the bridge. |
"Whilst discussing with the skipper the best way to extricate her, Gloriana came free and was blown by the gusting winds to the other side of the span. | "Whilst discussing with the skipper the best way to extricate her, Gloriana came free and was blown by the gusting winds to the other side of the span. |
"The lifeboat attempted to get between the [barge] and the arch to prevent her from getting jammed again but couldn't get there in time." | "The lifeboat attempted to get between the [barge] and the arch to prevent her from getting jammed again but couldn't get there in time." |
It was during the rescue that damage was caused when the aft platform of the lifeboat came in contact with the port quarter of the Gloriana. | It was during the rescue that damage was caused when the aft platform of the lifeboat came in contact with the port quarter of the Gloriana. |
But the RNLI insisted: "It was important the recovery was carried out quickly as the tide was still rising and Gloriana would have become even more firmly wedged under the bridge causing further damage to its superstructure." | But the RNLI insisted: "It was important the recovery was carried out quickly as the tide was still rising and Gloriana would have become even more firmly wedged under the bridge causing further damage to its superstructure." |
The 94ft (28.6m) barge was presented to the Queen before a pageant of more than 1,000 boats sailed down the Thames last June to mark the monarch's 60 years on the throne. | The 94ft (28.6m) barge was presented to the Queen before a pageant of more than 1,000 boats sailed down the Thames last June to mark the monarch's 60 years on the throne. |