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."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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