Canal barge enthusiast falls to death after slipping through sheet ice into freezing water on Leeds-Liverpool canal near Ormskirk

Liverpool Echo story here.

It's a rare time when a local newspaper says pretty much all of the story in the headline.   If you aren't a friend or relation of the poor guy concerned then you won't need to know much more.

Except that it happened near the Ship Inn at Haskayne on Sunday, the unfortunate man apparently slipped from his boat - presumably moored - and and another boater nearby is quoted as saying that the ice around there was four inches thick.

'Four inches thick' is surely enough to walk on, though perhaps not enough to bear the weight of portly middle-age plunging feet-first.

It's a time when stout boating boots with good treads are very useful, and perhaps I should stop wearing my no-tread crepe soles.

Comments

[Debbie Davies]

I knew the man who tragically died, and a really nice man he was too. Always had time to wave and stop for a chat. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife and family.

R.I.P Dave, you will be sadly missed.

Debbie Nb Tickety Boo.