Teen calls for better lighting after canal fall

A teenager who fell into a canal basin notorious for people and vehicles going into the water believes it needs better street lighting.

Ethan Sinclair, 17, from Smethwick in the West Midlands, said he was on his way to collect an electric scooter from a seller in Walsall when he slipped trying to avoid a puddle.

He said he had been trying to follow Google Maps in the town centre at the time: "It was dark, there were no lights and no rails."

The Canal and River Trust said it was constantly reviewing the situation but there was not a simple solution. Walsall Council said it was not responsible for the area around the canal basin.

Numerous people as well as several vehicles have fallen or gone into the canal basin in Walsall over recent years.

Mr Sinclair said: "The second my foot slipped I knew I was going in. I fell right to the bottom. It must have been at least six or seven feet."

There was a mooring ring close to the spot where he fell in: "I quickly jumped back up and my fingertips managed to grab onto the edge."

People at a nearby cafe then helped him out of the water. "They said I was the third or fourth person that day," he added.

After initially turning down an ambulance, he took himself to hospital when his hands went blue and his breathing became difficult. Doctors later gave him the all clear.

In 2021, the Canal and River Trust installed a six foot tall blue buoy in the canal basin with the words "deep water" written on it, after three people fell into the basin in one day.

Two cars have also driven into the basin.

A spokesperson for the trust said it was sorry to hear about Mr Sinclair's accident and added: "This must have been a very unpleasant experience, so we're glad he was given the all clear after sensibly seeking medical advice."

The trust confirmed that, as well as installing the buoy, it had removed weeds to make it clear where the edge of the water lay.

They said they do not own the land around the canal and added: "Although fencing off the waterfront may appear a straightforward solution, it is sadly not that simple in practice".

Walsall Council, which is responsible for street lighting, said the canal basin was the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust.

It also pointed to plans to redevelop the area around Gallery Square and improve the canal basin area.

Mr Sinclair said the incident had left him feeling anxious about leaving the house: "Anything could happen now. I'm staying in a lot more. College is the only place I really go."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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