FOI Request 2110

Subject: Incidents on the Bridgewater Canal

Status: Complete

Date received: February 2025

Question Asked:

This request is regarding the BRIDGEWATER CANAL, from Castlefield Junction with Rochdale Canal in Manchester, to its’ terminus in Runcorn Cheshire.

I ask that the information be over a period of 3 years from a. 1.1.20 to 31.12.20. b. 1.1.21 to 31.12.21. c. 1.1.22 to 31.12.22.

Could you please supply a complete breakdown for each year the date, location, species plus the result of the incident? Whether the species was rescued alive or recovered deceased.

How many calls were received to rescue a Human?

How many calls were received to rescue an animal?

How many of the above were acted upon?

What was the cost of each incident?

Our Response:

Please see below the data requested regarding incidents attended on Bridgewater Canal between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2022. Due to the unique circumstances of each incident, we cannot provide costs incurred on Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Incident No	Date	Incident Type	Detail	Easting	Northing
2004000544	02/04/2020 18:08	Special Service	Horse had fallen with rider into canal, rider was clear of canal on arrival of Fire Service	365118	386909
2006006754	18/06/2020 14:31	Special Service	Person fell into canal but had self rescued before arrival of Fire Service	360981	385551
2007008787	27/07/2020 18:31	Special Service	Person on bridge who was removed by Police before arrival of Fire Service	360971	385554
2101005730	20/01/2021 17:23	Special Service	Flooding incident around bridge where advice was given	370398	387349
2105009103	28/05/2021 19:44	Special Service	Small deer stuck in canal which self rescued before arrival of Fire Service	372743	387118
2207013899	31/07/2022 09:24	Special Service	Sheep recovered from canal and taken back to farmer’s field	356691	381970
2208000584	02/08/2022 12:52	Special Service	Two sheep recovered from canal by bystanders and put in field before arrival of Fire Service	356690	381793
2212000194	01/12/2022 14:57	Special Service	Person rescued from sunken barge who was unharmed	370497	387283
2212005459	15/12/2022 16:43	Special Service	Car in canal, driver helped out by bystanders before Fire Service arrival	368393	387364

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service can only provide data up to the border of Cheshire which is the Bridgewater Canal junction with Bollin River (what3words - devalued.vowed.twirls or Easting - 372856 and Northing - 387457). You will have to contact Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for incidents from the junction at Bollin River to Castlefield Junction with Rochdale Canal.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO

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Last updated: Wednesday, 21 January 2026