‘Angry’ EastEnders star Sid Owen reveals ‘reason’ his £30k boat sank in Thames as huge row brews over who is to blame

EASTENDERS star Sid Owen has blamed a “dodgy fan belt” for the demise of his new boat — as pictures show it almost submerged after a river crash.

Sid claimed the fault led to the 33ft cruiser drifting to the bank and hitting a tree, tearing a hole in the hull through which water poured.

He and a pal, who recently paid £30,000 for the boat to lease it out to day-trippers, are now bickering with the former owners as to who should take responsibility.

Sid claims that mechanical failure led to the sinking and insists they should be reimbursed, raging: “I’m so angry about it.”

We told yesterday how Sid was forced to abandon ship after Rolling On The River came a cropper near Sunbury Lock on the Thames at Walton, Surrey.

The boat is now nearly fully submerged.

Sid was seen fleeing and witnesses claimed it looked as if he had been boozing.

He told friends he had been to a pub for lunch in Surbiton six miles away but “wasn’t drunk”.

A source told The Sun: “Sid is insisting that the boat broke down due to a dodgy fan belt before drifting into the riverbank.

“He says he only fled the scene because his friend is elderly and he wanted to get him off the boat as quickly as possible.

“He’s trying to blame the previous owner for what’s gone on but it appears there may be more to this than he is trying to suggest.”

As the dispute continues, it is unclear who will pay to have the boat removed from the Thames.

The Environment Agency is likely to fine whoever is responsible for abandoning a semi-submerged boat, which was worth around £115,000 when new.

The source added: “It isn’t fully submerged yet but it will keep filling with water.

“There’s really no way to salvage it now. It’s a write-off. The engine is completely flooded.

“Here’s hoping there’s some insurance in place. It’s a great shame. They obviously had big plans for it.”

Sid, 54, first joined BBC’s ­EastEnders in 1988 and has had a number of stints in the role, his last ending in January 2023.

He played dim-witted mechanic Ricky Butcher who had a relationship with Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer, 53.

She was known for yelling “Rickaaayy” at him.