Sixty tonnes of weed have been removed from a Birmingham canal after multiple people fell into the water, mistaking it for hard ground.
The Walsall canal basin was swamped with thick layers of “ferocious” duckweed and water fern, duping passers-by into thinking it was grass or asphalt.
A 19-year-old plunged into the murky water two weeks ago following dinner at Nandos with friends, Birmingham Live reported.
Less than an hour later, Steve Worthington, 41, and his son, 11, said they suffered the same fate, tumbling straight into the canal.
On the same night, a 35-year-old woman also allegedly fell into the slimy trap.
It took two days and the help of local volunteers to clear the basin of the hazardous plants.
A spokeswoman for the Canal & River Trust charity told the Standard their team had managed to remove 60 tonnes of the weed, but keeping the waterfront clear would remain an “ongoing battle”.
Describing the invasive plants as “a ferocious grower in warmer weather”, she said: “Not only does the weed create a hazard as people and pets get confused thinking its grass, but it is also really costly to remove.
“Removing the weed is an ongoing battle but now, with the cooler weather this should slow the growth, and we will continue to remove it when necessary.”
Mr Worthington told the BBC he and his son visited the area for the first time, when they suffered their slippery mishap.
The West Midlands resident said the “poor light” at around 8pm contributed to the deception, and the pair stepped straight into the water.
He said they were submerged in the water, and struggled to clamber out to safety.
"I have had nightmares ever since and my son is having counselling at schoo," he told the BBC.
