Woman, 78, Dies After Falling from Boat and Being ‘Crushed’ Against Side of Canal: Reports

Margaret Billings died in an accidental crush between a canal boat and dock on June 27, according to the coroner report

A retired pharmacist died after she was crushed to death during a boating trip in England, according to multiple outlets.

Margaret Billings, 78, from Gwynedd, Wales, was sailing with friends and family on June 27, 2024, when she fell from a boat and became trapped near the Somerset town of Devizes, the BBC and Wales Online reported.

Despite the attempts of paramedics and an air ambulance, she died at the scene and police are not treating her death as suspicious, the outlets added.

On March 6, 2025, Michael Billings — her husband of 51 years — shared in a written statement to Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court that he and Margaret had previously been on over 20 boating trips and were experienced and confident in the water, local news outlet This Is Wiltshire reported.

They were getting ready to moor up at Maton Lock in Devizes, as part of a week-long vacation along the historic Kennet and Avon Canal when the accident occurred, according to the outlet.

“I began to bring the back end [of the boat] in. Margaret was standing approximately 3 feet away from me on the outside of the boat,” Mr Billings said, explaining how the accident happened.

“The boat was coming in nicely at the back and I recall telling her to wait as it appeared she was going to step off,” he continued per This Is Wiltshire. “There was no need for her to do this as I was bringing the boat in closer to the bank.

“The next thing I heard was a cry and I saw a splash in the water. I did not see her leave contact with the boat and didn’t know what was going on,” he added.

The inquest heard that Mrs Billing was unable to make it to the bank after she attempted to jump from the boat while it was continuing to move forward, the BBC reported.

“The boat weighed about 20 tons and I could see it crushing the life out of Margaret,” Mr Billings said, per the BBC.

She was pulled from the water, which was around 4 feet deep, by friends, according to the outlet.

Paramedics arrived at the scene at 6:37 p.m. local time, but she was pronounced dead shortly after at 6:46 p.m., This Is Wiltshire reported.

A post-mortem examination concluded that she died following a traumatic upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and traumatic head injury from being trapped between the boat and the side of the canal, according to the outlet.

“In circumstances that remain unclear, Margaret left the boat and was in the water between the boat and the bank with the distance between the two rapidly diminishing,” area coroner Ian Singleton stated, according to This Is Wiltshire.

“Margaret was caught between the canal boat and the bank, which caused extensive injuries to her chest and head,” he continued. “Margaret was pulled from the water and despite the efforts of paramedics was pronounced dead at the scene.”