STAFF and students at Accrington and Rossendale College were still in shock today over the tragic death of firefighter Paul Metcalf, who lost his life trying to rescue a teenager who had dived into a lodge to cool off.

Paul, 40, of Whalley Road, Shuttleworth, was a carpentry and joinery technician at the college, but in his spare time he was a retained fireman.

He was hailed a hero when he died after wading into Simon's Lodge at Redisher Wood, Holcombe Brook, on Sunday, to try to find Reyaz Ali, 15, a pupil at the nearby Darul Uloom Islamic College.

Paul is believed to have been trapped under the water for 15 minutes after a rope connecting him to the bank became snagged on debris in the lake.

Fellow officers eventually pulled him to the side, but he died 20 minutes after arriving at Hope Hospital, Salford. Mike Austin, principal of Accrington and Rossendale College, where Paul also ran his 'Fit as a Fiddle' Karate club, said: "Paul was a very popular member of staff, well liked by his colleagues and the students. He was very well respected for his hard work and dedication to his job as a carpentry and joinery technician.

"It was typical of him that he should take on other responsibilities alongside his main job, as he was full of energy with a wish and desire to help others. All those who knew him in college were shocked and saddened by this tragedy. We have been in touch with Paul's family to express our condolences." An investigation into the tragedy has been launched and Greater Manchester County Fire Office George Almond said that in situations like these officers acted on their own initiative and, as far as he was aware, fire service procedures had been followed. The alarm was first raised on Sunday afternoon when Reyaz, from New Zealand, failed to surface from the water after plunging from a rope swing.

Paul was one of three firefighters who swam into the lake after bubbles were spotted near the surface.

Two fellow officers and a policeman tried to rescue him when he got into difficulties.

Paramedics tried to revive him at the shore and a police helicopter airlifted him to hospital.

Reyaz's body was recovered four hours later by police divers.

Paul, who was single, had served as a part-time firefighter in Ramsbottom for 10 years and was promoted to the rank of sub-officer in March last year.

Flags will fly at half mast at fire stations throughout Greater Manchester until after Paul's funeral.

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