Man was 'hanging on to a tree for his life'

A 28-year-old man was left "hanging on to a tree for his life" when the branch he had climbed on to snapped

A 28-year-old man was left "hanging on to a tree for his life" when the branch he had climbed on to snapped.

The man had climbed off the parapet of a bridge on Queens Park Road in Heywood onto the tree, which was 150ft up from the ground.

A crew from Heywood Fire Station was rescued the man.

Watch Manager Barry Malone said: “The branch the man climbed on to snapped and he became stuck on another branch below and couldn’t get back up again. He was too scared to climb all the way down and when we arrived he was literally hanging on to the tree for his life.

“A harness with rescue line attached was passed to him and I told him to place it under his arms, while still holding tightly to the tree, and to pull it as tight as he could to prevent him falling to the ground.

“Firefighter Steve McNiffe was then rigged in rope harness equipment, lowered over the parapet and on to a short extension ladder, which was strategically placed from the parapet and onto a strong branch just below the man’s feet.

“The man was rescued up the ladder while firmly attached by line with him suffering no more than injured pride. He was there with around five others and a very tearful young son.”