Two men rescued after swimming in Hollingworth Lake

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Hollingworth Lake

Two men had a lucky escape when they were rescued from Hollingworth Lake this afternoon (Saturday 26 July) after swimming 80 metres from the shore.

Fire crews from Rochdale and a specialist Water Incident Unit were sent to the lake at 6.15pm after people on the shore saw the men clinging to a buoy.

Station Manager Andy Braken said: "The two men decided to take a swim in Hollingworth Lake and swam out to a buoy around 80 metres from the shore.

"When they reached the buoy and tried to swim back they realised they'd had enough and swam back to the buoy and waited to be rescued.

"Our water incident unit launched a inshore dingy and rescued them from the water. It was a straight forward job for the firefighters at the scene, but both men could've easily been killed like so many other people who decide to swim in reservoirs and lakes in hot weather."

Both men were treated by paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service at the scene but declined hospital treatment.