HUNDREDS of firefighters from across the country packed a church yesterday to pay tribute to a colleague who died trying to rescue a teenager from a lake.

Sub-officer Paul Metcalf, 40, a part-time fireman from Whalley Road, Shuttleworth, drowned after his lifeline became snagged underwater as he tried in vain to save Reyaz Ali, 16, nine days ago.

His coffin, draped with a Union flag on which lay his yellow firefighter's helmet, was carried to the funeral service at Bury Parish Church on a fire engine as fire crews lined the streets of the town.

The funeral cortege then passed Ramsbottom Fire Station, where mourners have left floral tributes in memory of Paul, on the way to Edenfield Parish Church where Paul was buried with full fire service honours.

Paul, who was based at Ramsbottom and was also a carpenter and technician at Accrington and Rossendale College, was the first fire officer to die at the scene of an incident since the formation of the Greater Manchester County Fire Service in 1974. Around 1,000 mourners, led by Paul's mother Jacqueline and twin brother Michel , heard County Fire Officer George Almond hail him a hero.

He said: "The selfless bravery displayed by Paul in attempting to rescue young Reyaz Ali was typical of his leadership and courage.

"It demonstrated how officers in our profession are prepared to act to save the lives of others.

"Paul took tremendous pride in all his work and was very much a perfectionist in everything he did. His strong sense of loyalty and commitment were an inspiration to others."

An inquiry is under way into the tragedy at remote Simon's Lodge in woods at Holcombe Brook.

Reyaz, a New Zealander studying at the nearby Darul Uloom Islamic College, had swung on a rope into the lake, which he was visiting with friends.

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