Urgent talks after TWO canal rescues
COUNCIL bosses are seeking urgent talks with police after a second citycentre canal rescue.
A drunken man who fell into a stretch of the Rochdale Canal in Castlefield was rescued by firefighters just before 1am on Saturday.
Police have now revealed that a ‘hero passer-by’ rescued another man who had fallen into a separate stretch of the canal in the Gay Village in the early hours of Sunday.
The council’s city centre spokesman, Councillor Pat Karney, said he feared a death.
He said the council would be talking to police and groups based in the Gay Village about canal security to prevent any future tragedies.
In the latest incident, police and paramedics were scrambled to Canal Street at 3.40am on Sunday. It followed reports a man had fallen into the water.
A spokesman for GMP’s city-centre team said: “The male was rescued by a hero passer-by. He left with paramedics in a very wet state.”
It is not thought the man was injured or taken to hospital.
The incident followed the rescue by firefighters of a 27-year-old man just before 1am on Saturday.
Emergency services were scrambled to a stretch of the Rochdale Canal just off Castle Street in Castlefield and a rescue operation was launched.
The man was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary for treatment.
A GMP spokesman said: “Police officers attended to support fire crews, who retrieved the 27-year-old male from the water.
“The North West Ambulance Service also attended and the male was taken to hospital. There is no update on any injuries or treatment.”