THE COMMUNITY has come together to help a man whose houseboat was destroyed by fire in Stockton.
The man – who is simply known as ‘Malcolm’ in the boating community – is being treated for burns in hospital after the blaze ravaged his boat in Southam Road.
And former boater Martin James has set up a crowdfunder for Malcolm to either repair the boat or help find him somewhere new to live.
The Coventry resident said: “I don’t personally know Malcolm, however I been past him before and always heard such lovely things about him from others.
“He is a lovely chap and always has time for other people.
“I had a situation where mine and my partner’s boat caught fire a couple of years ago just before Christmas and it devastated us. So many people helped us out so the least we could do was to return the favour.”
Over £1,100 has been raised for the boater after the crowdfunder was set up on Tuesday (December 18).
Mr James said a decent, secondhand boat might cost from around £5,000.
Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/help-malcolm-canal-boat-fund to donate.
Search Canal Market Place on Facebook for updates on Malcolm and information on the canal community.
