A YOUNGSTER has vowed never to swim in open water again after telling how he and three friends had to be rescued from the River Irwell.

Mohammed Aftab was paddling near to the weir at Burrs Country Park on Sunday when he plunged into a deep section of river. The 11-year-old panicked and struggled to swim to the banking. He was pulled under several times by the current before his friends dragged him to a small section of banking where all four became stranded between the water and a 20ft high wall.

Mohammed, of Walmersley Road, Bury, said: "I was crying and I didnt want to go back into the water.

"My friends stayed with me because I was scared. We went to the weir and climbed down the waterfall into the river. I fell into the ditch and my head going under really frightened me and I just wanted to get out. My shorts were dragging me under."

Firefighters and a water rescue unit were called by the public. In the hot weather, the crews had to walk nearly half a mile with the ladder to reach them.

Leading Firefighter Paul Newby said: "We lowered a ladder down the 20ft sheer drop and told the lads to keep it steady as firemen went down to organise their evacuation.

"The younger boy was very frightened. We tied a rope around him and walked him up the ladder. We rescued the other three boys in the same way."

Mohammed, a pupil at St John and St Mark's Primary School, Bury, was taken to hospital and allowed home later. "I dont think I will go swimming in the river again, he commented. "I'll use the swimming baths."