A large barge that collided with a bridge in Hull after breaking off its tether was “most likely” a deliberate act, the lifeboat service said.
Humber Rescue said it had responded to reports of a vessel stuck under Stoneferry Bridge shortly after 1815 GMT on Monday.
A spokesman for the charity said the incident left multiple emergency services, including the police and fire services, “in limbo” for several hours, with resources likely to be diverted.
It comes after emergency crews from the region were involved in a major search and rescue operation off the East Yorkshire coast that left two people dead and a 15-year-old girl still missing.
The charity said efforts to rescue the boat tied up resources for several hours [Humber Rescue]
Humber Rescue Team said four crew members entered the water in sub-zero temperatures and found the barge stuck under the bridge on arrival.
Once the tide recedes sufficiently, the vessel is released and returned to its original mooring.
“As the vessel was inspected at anchor approximately a week ago, it is likely that this was a deliberate act,” the spokesman said.
“While it may seem funny at the time, please consider your actions,” they added.
Listen to highlights BBC Sounds Hull and East Yorkshirewatch The latest episode of “Look North” Or tell us a story you think we should cover here.
Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
