Salford: Teenager Rescued From Canal

15 August 2013, 16:06 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police in Salford are reminding people of the dangers of swimming in open water after a 15 year-old girl had to be rescued from a canal.

The teenager started to struggle after swimming out too far on Saturday August 10th.

Friends she was with managed to rescue her from the canal near Media City, before a passing fire officer came over to give first aid.

Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: "In the summer it can be tempting to take a dip in a local river, lake or canal.

"It might seem like a fun thing to do but it is actually extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

"The water is often a lot colder than you expect, which can affect your physical capabilities, and it can be deeper than it looks.

"There’s no way of knowing what lies beneath the surface – there could be all sorts in the water, like tin cans or broken bottles that could cause serious injuries.

Chief Inspector Steve Howard said: "This young girl was very lucky that her friends were able to come to her rescue and help her out of the water.

"This is one of a number of similar incidents over the last few months and I want to take the opportunity to urge parents to reiterate the dangers of swimming in open water and emphasise that it can potentially cost lives."