Man rescued from river after trying to retrieve five pound note

Man being rescued from the River Roch

A man had to be pulled out of the newly-opened River Roch in Rochdale town centre after jumping into shallow, rocky water in an attempt to retrieve a five pound note.

The man, who was drinking cans of beer with two friends, was dared to make the jump after the money landed in the water, but ended up with an injured foot after landing on the hard ground.

Witnesses watched as fire crews lifted him to safety on a stretcher and delivered him to paramedics, who treated him on scene.

Greater Manchester Police cordoned off the area for approximately one hour.

A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the scene at 12.10 after the man, who was intoxicated, had jumped into the river in an attempt to recover money. He had to be removed from the rocks as the water is not very deep.”

Witness Stephen Southworth told Rochdale Online how the man was being “egged on” by his friends. He added: “They were telling him that if he jumped in they would buy him five cans.”

A second witness, Mr Khan, said: “Honestly it was like nothing you’d ever seen. Who risks a drop like that to get a fiver back? He had been drinking so that probably explains the bad decision.

“The river had just been opened and we were wondering how long until someone did something ridiculous.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews attended from Rochdale, Heywood and Ashton under Lyne with rescue equipment.