Guests watched in horror as a man fell into the river outside the Lowry Hotel tonight - before another jumped in to try and save him.
The dramatic incident unfolded at around 9pm when a man fell from the area around the pedestrian bridge that connects the Lowry with the city centre.
It is not clear how he came to be in the water, although there were some reports he fell from a tree above the bridge.
A second man then removed his clothes and then jumped into the canal from the footpath in an attempt to save the first.
It is not clear if the two men were known to each other.
One eyewitness told the M.E.N: “We were having dinner in the Lowry when we saw the ambulances.
“The staff came running out.
“The guy took his clothes off on the step and he was in.
“He was in the water trying to save him, swimming about like mad.
“He really did try - I’m surprised he didn’t freeze.
“As the ambulances arrived he got out of the water and he was in a silver blanket.
“If anyone deserves recognition for trying to help it’s that guy.”
A spokesman for the fire service said they believe a man fell into the water from the white pedestrian bridge.
A second man then went in after him. That man then got out of the water and is safe and well. The first man remains missing.
Police and ambulance crews also attended and a helicopter was seen hovering overhead.
Fire crews sent three boats out onto the water with a sniffer dog to try and locate the missing man, but as of 11pm their attempts were unsuccessful.
It's understood that police divers will take over the search below the water line, but that may not begin until tomorrow morning.
The Manchester Evening News has approached Greater Manchester Police for comment.
