MEMBERS of Bradford on Avon’s boating community have expressed their shock and sympathy after a 44-year-old Bristol man died following a fire on his canal boat on Sunday.

Firefighters attended the Kennet and Avon Canal off Moulton Drive at 3.33am, after a passer-by raised the alarm.

Crews from Bradford on Avon and two units from Trowbridge and Melksham were at the scene, along with the heavy rescue unit from Trowbridge. Four breathing apparatus wearers used two hose reel jets and a main jet to tackle the blaze, and firefighters were at the scene for 12 hours.

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, and this week police said they were not releasing the name of the man who died, following a request for privacy from his family.

It is believed the boat had only moored up on that section of the canal the night before the blaze.

Members of the boating community in Bradford on Avon, who preferred to remain anonymous, are shocked at the tragedy.

“It really is awful news,” said one nearby barge owner. “It is a harrowing sight to see what is left of the boat, just horrible really.

“After talking to many people from our boating community, who are a tight-knit bunch, it appears nobody knew them.

“Even though we don’t know what caused it, it is a good reminder to make sure that we are extra careful in our own boats.”

Another canal boat owner stationed near the Beehive Pub said: “This is the fourth or fifth incident like this around this area in the last few years. It really is horrible.

“I just hope the family are OK as I can’t imagine what they are going through right now.”

One man, who had his boat moored near the Barge Inn, said: “We all have our safety certificates to show our boat is safe but every now and again something like this can happen and it is terribly sad.”

Wiltshire Police sealed off the road at Moulton Drive and the footpath alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon.

Following the fire, members of Trowbridge Fire Station’s Blue Watch are carrying out boat safety checks along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

To request a visit, or for more information about keeping safe, visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/boatsafety