‘More than 20 workers’ fished him out
Officers pull the naked man out of the canal(Image: David Lawwrence / SWNS)
Emergency service workers hung onto the arms of a streaker as he was pulled out of the Rochdale Canal.
Firefighters, police and paramedics attended the canal on Tariff Street, in the Northern Quarter, late on Saturday night (August 2).
Onlookers watched on in shock as the naked man was fished out of the water at 11.30pm, near Piccadilly Marina.
He was later taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury.
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David Lawwrence, a carbon technology specialist, was watching a film with friends before they heard a commotion outside.
The 24-year-old said: “Three friends and I were just having a casual Saturday movie night – we were watching that new zombie film 28 Years Later, which was quite freaky because he was literally acting like a zombie when he got pulled out the canal.
Emergency services at the scene(Image: UGC/MEN)
“At first there was screaming from a distance, but it got gradually louder and louder – I guess he was moving down the canal trying to find somewhere to get out.
“It seemed to be a joke at first, but it took a team of more than 20 workers to get this man out of the canal. Hopefully he isn’t waking up with too much of a hangover.”
Specialist firefighters and rescue units were scrambled to the scene, with throw lines used to reach and rescue the man before he was handed over to paramedics.
Greater Manchester Police previously told the Manchester Evening News an investigation was underway to determine how and why the man came to be in the canal.
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A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At shortly before 11.30pm on Saturday (August 2) two fire engines from Manchester central fire station, the water incident unit from Eccles fire station plus the enhanced rescue unit from Ashton fire station assisted GMP with the rescue of one man from a canal off Tariff Street in Manchester city centre.
“Firefighters used throw lines to rescue the man before handing them to the care of northwest ambulance service. Crews were in attendance for around 45 minutes.”
GMP has been approached for an update.