A MAN running from police had to be rescued by specialist firefighters after jumping into a river.

The man, in his early 20s, was helped out of Colne Water close to Green Road in Colne, just before 3am yesterday.

Gary Ibbitson, watch manager at Nelson Fire Station, was at the scene with his swift water rescue crew, two other fire crews, paramedics and a number of police officers.

He said that after the man was brought up a 10-metre ladder to safety, he was immediately handcuffed before being checked over by paramedics.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “The man was placed in handcuffs while further inquiries were made to discover whether a criminal offence had occurred.

"Officers soon realised no offence had taken place and the man was released without charge and taken home.”

Mr Ibbitson said: “I think he was being chased by the police and was trying to evade arrest.

“The river was well below road level and he had gone into the water and was hiding underneath a bridge.

“By the time we arrived he was getting cold and didn’t want to be in there anymore, so he came out from under the bridge and walked across the 20ft-wide river towards our ladder.”

Two firefighters went down the ladder and ‘cradled’ the man back up to safety as he was shivering and intoxicated, Mr Ibbitson said.

He added: “The water was reasonably deep – over his knees – and fast flowing.

"Any deeper and he could have been washed away. People don’t realise the danger.”

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