FIREMAN Paul Metcalf paid the ultimate price for his dedication to the service.

As hundreds of colleagues and members of the public lined the streets in Bury town centre on Monday for the 40-year-old's funeral, the head of Greater Manchester County Fire Service paid tribute to the part-time fire fighter's act of bravery that cost him his life.

Speaking to a packed Bury Parish Church, County Fire Officer Mr George Almond said: "The selfless bravery displayed by Paul in an attempt to rescue Reyaz Ali, who also died, was typical of his leadership and courage.

"The whole brigade was shocked by this accident. The magnificent attendance today is testimony to the very high regard in which Paul is held by his friends and colleagues."

Sub-officer Metcalf, based at Ramsbottom station, was with three crews of colleagues attempting to find Reyaz Ali who had failed to surface after plunging into Simon's Lodge at Holcombe on Sunday afternoon. Wading into the water, the Mr Metcalf got into difficulties when a safety rope, tied around his waist, became snagged on an under-water tree branch.

Colleagues made desperate efforts to pull him free, but the firefighter remained under water for about 15 minutes. Mr Metcalf was eventually air-lifted to Hope Hospital, Salford, as an on-board paramedic attempted to revive him.

However, he died on arrival at hospital.

The body of 16-year-old Reyaz was recovered from the water four hours later by an underwater search team.

The teenager, from New Zealand, was a star student at Holcombe's Darul Uloom Islamic College.

The Health and Safety Executive, the Coroner and the fire brigade have each launched a top level investigation into the tragedy.

Monday, however, was a time for the brigade nationwide to remember a colleague who put his life on the line to save another.

Around 1,000 officers from around the country brought Bury town centre to a standstill as Mr Metcalf's body was driven to the parish church on the back of a turn-table ladder fire tender. A Union Flag was draped over the coffin flanked during the journey by four colleagues. After the service, Mr Metcalf's body was taken to Edenfield Parish Church for burial.

Crews from Ramsbottom formed a guard-of-honour outside the Stubbins Lane fire station as they saluted their heroic colleague.

Ramsbottom fireman Ray Bailey, a close friend of Mr Metcalf, told the Bury Times that all the fireman who attended the funeral - and those who couldn't - would have taken the same action if they had had the chance to save Reyaz.

Mr Bailey said: "Paul was a great friend and a professional fireman.

"He died doing what he loved best."

Students from Darul Uloom Islamic College paid their own respects to the fireman who lost his life attempting to save their fellow pupil.

Around 50 youngsters from the college, together with pupils from Woodhey High School, lined Bolton Road West in Holcombe Brook as the body of Mr Metcalf, of Whalley Road, Shuttleworth, was carried to Edenfield Parish Church for burial.

Reyaz was buried in Blackburn two days after the tragedy in line with Islamic tradition.

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