Firefighters rushed to help a man in Marlow who feared his boat was going to sink to the bottom of the Thames after discovering it had a hole.

Crews rushed to the Marlow slipway on St Peter’s Street after the 25ft boat began to sink on the causeway at around 5.48pm yesterday evening (April 7).

Firefighters pumped water out of the boat and it was removed from the river.

Crew commander at Marlow Fire Station, Dave James, said: “He was very clear it wasn’t an emergency but said water is coming in to my boat and I need someone to help me get it out before it sinks. He was very apologetic.

“He was not aware there was a hole in the boat. The fire brigade pumped the water out it only took around one pump it was about three inches in the engine compartment.”

Two crews from High Wycombe, one from Marlow and one from Maidenhead attended along with the Water Rescue Unit from Beaconsfield and an officer.