Huge emergency services response at River Irwell amid major rescue mission as man rushed to hospital

A huge emergency services response was called to the River Irwell in Radcliffe on Monday night (August 5) amid a major water rescue mission, with a man rushed to hospital.

Police, paramedics and fire crews blocked off Stand Lane and the bridge over the river following reports of a person in difficulty. It is understood others then jumped in to try and save them at around 8.10pm.

A woman and two men were later pulled from the water. One man was rushed to hospital from the scene after being rescued.

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Pictures from the scene showed a number of fire engines, along with water rescue units and police at the scene. The area was taped off amid the incident.

Ambulances could also be seen lining the streets as specialist crews went down to the river. Witnesses saw rescue teams on the water in a small boat behind the Lock Keeper pub.

One witness on social media said: "My heart was in my throat, we passed as the first police were arriving on scene and circled back, there were firemen down in the water at that point."

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that fire engines from Bury and Broughton, along with technical response and water rescue units were called to the scene.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 8.10pm this evening (Monday 5 August), two fire engines from Bury and Broughton fire stations, one fire engine and the water incident unit from Heywood, the technical response unit from Ashton and the air support unit were called to reports of three people in the River Irwell.

“Crews arrived quickly and used specialist water rescue