A tranquil stag party on the canal turned to mayhem as boats crashed and one partially sunk as its occupants fell “asleep”.

The group had hired three boats and set off along the waterways in Worcestershire on Friday and stopped at the pub along the way, it is believed.

But events deteriorated and one boat was left stuck in a lock at a 45-degree angle and taking on water after those aboard are thought to have fallen asleep.

They had to be rescued from the Droitwich Canal by the emergency services and River Canal Rescue was called in to refloat the stricken boat.

The group had picked up their boats from Worcester Marina on Friday before stopping at a pub, the Canal & River Trust told Sky News.

During their jaunt along the waterways at least one of the boats hired by the stag party is believed to have been involved in crashes with other boats, the trust said.

The group are believed to have tried to pass through a lock but had been unable to get out.

“Either they weren’t in the correct state to be operating the gates or they weren’t aware of how to operate them,” River Canal Rescue told Sky News.

“We think water in the lock drained while they were asleep.”

Once in the lock the water around the boat began to drain, causing one end to be caught on the cill and the other to descend, leaving it stuck at a 45-degree angle, a spokesperson said.

Pictures on social media show rescuers aboard the red canal boat as they worked to free the vessel.

“As much as it seems dramatic for everybody else it’s a fairly standard thing for us,” the spokesperson said.

The rescue team arrived on the scene at about 9.45am on Saturday and the lock was open for business again by 2.30pm.

Related posts:

Man arrested over murder of PCSO Julia James UK records another five COVID deaths and 2,047 cases Detectives given more time to question man held over murder of PCSO Julia James Boris Johnson facing backlash over spending on Downing Street art Were things really better in the old days? New census tool shows how UK life has changed Mark Cavendish victim of ‘violent and targeted’ knifepoint burglary by four masked men NHS under pressure all over, but where are the pinch points? Prince Andrew has all military titles and royal patronages taken away – and will no longer use His Royal Highness Windowless rooms and insect infestations: Abuse victims forced to live in ‘traumatising’ properties British men captured by Russian forces appear on state TV and ask to be exchanged for pro-Moscow oligarch High risk contacts of monkeypox cases should self-isolate for three weeks, new UK guidance says More than 80% who worked from home in the pandemic say they will do hybrid working in future