A 28-YEAR-OLD man is lucky to be alive after falling 20 metres down a steep embankment along the River Irwell.
He was discovered half in the water, off Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, suffering from hypothermia. A passer-by, who raised the alarm at 11.30pm on Saturday, said he had stopped breathing several times.
A firefighter climbed down a rope while colleagues in diving suits swam across the river.
Another fire crew drove on to a nearby bridge and lowered its hydraulic arm down the bank. They placed the man on a spinal board before lifting him to safety and taking him to Fairfield Hospital for treatment.
Station Officer Paul Myerscough, from Bury Fire Station, said: "It was a very tricky rescue. He was very lucky not to have been more seriously hurt."
The man was discovered when the passer-by heard his screams at about 11.30pm on Saturday.
When firefighters and paramedics arrived the passer-by had also climbed down the embankment.
A fire brigade boat was brought to the scene, but the crews were unable to launch it because the bank was so steep.
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