Hi again - Di here - the one who had the accident. (maybe I should create my own account on here?!)
The return to Hertfordshire from Ripon meant dodgy internet access but I can now reply more fully.....
Sorry I don't know how to use the quote stuff on here but will answer some questions:
- thank you for the kind words from some 'posters' (!)
- sorry I can't say much more about the incident (yet) - hence nothing in the media, except my local paper last August
- the towpath telegraph worked amazingly fast last year, many hearing of the incident as far away as Yorkshire & it was mentioned
(apparently) at the IWA meet. Even last week someone who lives near the Hanwell flight mentioned they'd heard of my accident.
(I am now back in full brace/crutches with wound dressings hence the question 'how did you do that?')
- what I can say is the boat was in the lock and I was filling it ie top ground paddles open
- I KNOW that if I'd been wearing a life jacket I would be DEAD as I would not have gone through the culvert.
- I reported it to BW immediately and ONE of the defects was remedied within a month
- if it ever happens to anyone else....it was the water pressure that finally pushed me through so I agree - leave the paddles up!
- what I would like to convey is how I escaped drowning in the lock once I exited the culvert:
the water was clear, the sun was shining, I was being thrown around in the turbulence near the bottom of the water
The water from the 2 ground-paddle culverts was colliding mid-stream and creating what I describe as a catherine wheel effect
with the sun shining through the water bubbles. SOMEHOW I had the thought not to attempt to swim to the side but aimed for the
centre of these two 'wheels' at the bottom. I was carried to the surface!
- as for needing more info before being able to comment on the accident, please please, the questions is
'has anyone else ever fallen from a walkway like this, even if not reported'
- Cosmic - thank you so much for your advice - I did look at the site you mentioned and agree a phone call to them is my next step
Thanks
Di
PS I do think someone should look into producing a waterways guide for the emergency services as 'Lock 93 Grand Union Canal' really flummoxed them!!