A man has suffered 'severe injuries' after falling 20 feet into a river in Bolton town centre.
Emergency services were called to the incident in the River Croal off St Edmund Street shortly before 2.30am today (Monday, July 5).
Residents in nearby flats had dialled 999 after hearing the man shouting for help.
Firefighters rescued the man, believed to be in his early 50s, from the fast-flowing river.
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He was then taken to hospital with leg injuries, which have been described as 'severe'.
Martin Finch, watch manager at Bolton Central fire station, said: "He had fallen about 20 feet into the river, which was quite fast flowing.
"The police were on scene. They were alerted by residents from nearby flats who could hear him shouting.
"We had three fire engines, a boat unit, a technical rescue unit and a turntable ladder to rescue him from the river.
"We left the scene just before 5am."
GMP Traffic tweeted: "XT18 & Bolton Divisional patrols this morning attended St Edmund St following reports of a male shouting for help.
"Patrols found a male had fallen approx 20ft into the river Croal.
"In a joint operation with #NWAS & #GMFRS the male was rescued from the river & taken to hospital."
A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said: "We took a man to the hospital with a severe leg injury. We received call at 2.26am this morning reporting a man had fallen into the river.
"An ambulance, a response vehicle, four members of the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and the fire service were involved in the response."
