Restaurant boat sinks into the Thames after pontoon fails

Video: Fortunately there were no reports of casualties as several other vessels also sank

(RNLI)

A floating restaurant on the Thames, thought to be one of just 11 such barges, sunk to the bottom of the river overnight, after a pontoon in south west London failed.

The Boat restaurant, once owned by Jesus College, Oxford, began sinking around mighnight near Richmond Bridge, with the London coastguard arriving at the scene after 1am. The restaurant and half a dozen other boats tied to the pontoon were also taking on water.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)'s James Kavanagh said: 'It was mayhem. The river was littered with floating debris and owners of the rowing boats tethered to the pontoon were frantically trying to salvage as much as they could.

"The pontoon had failed and any vessel moored with decent rope was quickly being dragged under.

"As the tide rose, the stern of The Boat restaurant became fully submerged."

Fortunately, the restaurant was sunk when the vessel began to take on water, with no-one inside. There were no other casualties from any of the other stricken boats.

Additional reporting: AP