A man had to be rescued from the water after getting into difficulty in Manchester Ship Canal on Saturday evening (June 25).
Four fire engines, a boat unit and an aerial appliance were all called to Ellesmere Port at around 7pm as part of the rescue operation.
The man was safely removed from the water with the rescue boat from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS).
Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link
He was then taken care of by paramedics, who were also called to attend the scene with one ambulance present.
Cheshire Fire said the fire engines were called from Ellesmere Port, Chester and Powey Lane stations. A statement said: “Firefighters used a water rescue boat to rescue an individual from the Manchester Ship Canal. After they were removed from the water, they were handed into the care of paramedics.”
An eye-witness told the MEN that they believed the man had gone into the water for a swim before facing some difficulty getting out.
Following recent water accidents and deaths in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Salford Council issued warnings earlier this month to people considering swimming in open water during the hot weather.
A Salford City Council spokesperson said earlier this month: "No matter how hot the weather, open water in Salford Quays, rivers, lakes and reservoirs is always cold. The risk of drowning through cold water shock is real. Please stay out of the water and stay safe."
Cheshire Fire also issued a similar statement recently. CFRS said: “Rivers, quarries and lakes may feel warm on the surface but just a few feet below it can be icy cold - and very quickly and seriously affect your stamina and strength. Stay safe in and around water.”
