A JURY has retired to consider whether an East Lancashire firefighter drowned trying to rescue a teenager due to a "catalogue of failures."
Sub-officer Paul Metcalf died as he tried to save Reyaz Ali from the lake at Simons Lodge, Holcombe Brook, near Bury, in September 1999.
Mr Metcalf, 40, of Ramsbottom, drowned after his safety line snagged on a branch underwater.
Reyaz, a 15-year-old New Zealander studying at the Darui Uloom Islamic College, got into trouble after jumping into the lake. The teen, who also died, had gone to the lake with a group of friends.
Colleagues tried to resuscitate Mr Metcalf, a part-time firefighter, on the lodge bank but failed.
Greater Manchester Fire is accused of breaching its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article