Eyewitness Chris Witts gives his account of the maritime disaster that occurred in 1960, which saw two oil tanker collide leaving five sailors dead.

Footage filmed on July 29 shows the wreckage that is still visible due to low tides in the River Severn, Gloucestershire.

On October 25, 1960, two oil tankers collided in heavy fog near Sharpness. The vessels were caught in the tide and lost control. One of the ships was carrying black coal, which ignited and burnt for several hours after the tragic incident.

The crash led to the demolition of the Severn Rail Bridge as one of the ships had smashed into one of the pillars holding the structure up.

Maritime historian Paul Barnett mentions how a sailor survived by swimming towards lights coming from a house nearby the river.

An eyewitness recounts the tragic events of October 25th 1960 when two oil tankers collided in thick fog on the River Severn, near Sharpness Dock in Gloucestershire, claiming the lives of five sailors. The explosion also resulted in the subsequent demolition of the Severn Rail Bridge. The wrecks are still visible at low tide and serve as a reminder to the tragic events of that night 60 years ago.



Chris Witts