FIREMEN rescued a 21-year-old man from the raging River Irwell in Rawtenstall early today after he fell over a 10ft retaining wall.

Police officers threw a tow rope to Steven Dunleavey to stop him being swept away as firefighters raced to the scene at Bocholt Way, near Fallbarn Road shortly before 2am.

Fire officers climbed down two lines secured to trees and put a rescue harness around the man before he was led up a ladder to safety.

Mr Dunleavey, of Commercial Street, Stacksteads, was taken by ambulance to Bury General Hospital where he a treated for shock and cold and later released.

Fire sub-officer Nick Clough said: "We don't know how he came to be in the river, but the high walls on both sides meant he couldn't climb out."

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