Tragedy as search teams pull man's body from Manchester canal

A body has been pulled from a canal in east Manchester. Emergency services descended on Varley Street, in Miles Platting, after 7.45am today (June 21) following reports of a person seen in the Rochdale Canal.

Police, firefighters and the ambulance service all spent a number of hours at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported being turned away from the canal while officers worked at the canal.

Tragically, police recovered the body of a man from the water. Officers do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

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A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "At around 7.45am this morning (June 21), officers received a report of a body in Rochdale Canal, Varley Street, Manchester. Sadly, the body of a man was recovered from the water.

"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances." A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service added: “At around 7:45am this morning (Friday, July 21), firefighters were called to reports of a person in the water on Varley Street in Manchester.

“Two fire engines from Philips Park and Blackley, the technical response unit from Ashton and the water unit from Eccles fire stations quickly arrived at the scene. Crews assisted GMP and the North West Ambulance Service at the scene for around two hours.”