Cyclist rushed to hospital after falling from a bridge into a Heywood river

Photo: J Media Group Press & Media

A cyclist was rescued near Cheesden Brook, Heywood

A cyclist was rushed to hospital after falling from a bridge in Heywood into a river on Sunday afternoon (11 June).

The fire service attended the scene at Ashworth Road at around 12 noon, following reports that a man had fallen from a bridge when riding his bicycle.

Paramedics had requested aid from the fire service as the man was "inaccessible."

Firefighters recovered the man, who had been injured in the fall, using a "complex rope rescue" so he could be taken to hospital.

A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service(GMFRS)  said: "Just before 12pm on Sunday (11 June) paramedics asked for firefighters to help them at an incident where a man riding a bicycle has fallen from a bridge and landed in a river, inaccessible to the paramedics.

"Two fire engines from Littleborough and Bury central fire station, along with the Technical Response Unit from Ashton, Boat Unit and support appliance from Eccles rushed to the scene off Ashworth Road in Heywood.

"Firefighters performed a complex rope rescue of the injured man so he could be taken to hospital for further treatment.

“Firefighters were in attendance for around an hour and forty minutes.”

The North West Ambulance Service has also been contacted for comment.