News

Heroic Stockport estate agent saves woman from drowning at sea

Estate Agent Austin Mellor was out walking in the area when he spotted the women in difficulty.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 29th July 2021

An estate agent from Stockport has heroically saved a woman from drowning whilst visiting his mum in North Wales.

Former lifeguard Tina Powsey was swimming off the coast of Anglesey with her friend last weekend when the pair got caught in the strong current, reports North Wales Live. While Ms Powsey managed to get back to the shore, her friend, Margaret Kinnucane was left stranded in the water.

Austin Mellor – a 25-year-old property expert from Greater Manchester – was out walking in the area when he spotted the women in difficulty.

He immediately jumped into the sea to help, along with two others.

Luckily, they managed to get Ms Kinnucane to safety.

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Tina Powsey and Margaret Kinnucane were swimming off the coast of Anglesey / Credit: Geograph (Keith Williamson)

Detailing her account of the terrifying events that unfolded in a Facebook post, Ms Powsey said: “By the grace of God, we’re alive [but] we both very much nearly lost our lives today on Benllech Beach in the sea.

“Mags and I wanted to go out for a little invigorating swim but neither of us realised how rapidly the tide and current moved us out and across.

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“Before we knew it, our laughter turned to terror and we couldn’t touch the ground.”

Ms Powsey said she motioned to the “young man across the road” for help – who later turned out to be Mr Mellor – adding: “He didn’t hesitate to climb across the rocks to help.

“My friend couldn’t regain her footing and was going under quickly [but] I managed to roll on my back and float and then began doing a backstroke. I panicked and then a massive peace washed over me for just enough time to control my erratic breathing and get to a point where I could stand.

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“It was absolutely horrifying.”

Estate Agent Austin Mellor was out walking in the area when he spotted the women in difficulty / Credit: Edward Mellor Estate Agents

Full of gratitude for Mr Mellor for saving her friend’s life, Ms Powsey said: “Thank God he was there – he literally saved her life [because] I couldn’t make it back out to her, but he did.

“Two other young men quickly followed and they helped pull my friend to refuge on the rocks.

“I can’t get any of this out of my head and tears are falling as I write, but I’ve already read two crazy accounts of what happened and I just wanted to share the reality. The coastguard and ambulances / paramedics were amazing too and we’ll never again take our sea for granted.

“Nightmares will follow, but we’re both alive [thanks to] some brave young men who were there when we needed them.”

Featured Image – Edward Mellor Estate Agents

News

Manchester Pride enters voluntary liquidation ‘with enormous sadness’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Pride’s statement as it enters liquidation

Manchester Pride has announced that the company has entered the process of voluntary liquidation, after it emerged that several of this year’s performers had gone unpaid.

The hugely popular LGBTQ+ event, which spills from the Gay Village and into surrounding venues every August bank holiday weekend, said it has faced ‘rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an ambitious refresh of format’.

Manchester Pride said that all of these factors, among others, have led to the organisation being ‘no longer financially viable’ and its staff team will be made redundant.

“We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves,” the Board of Trustees wrote.

Last week, it emerged that a number of artists who appeared at this year’s celebration had shared a letter that alleges they are still waiting for payment for their work at the festival.

In a statement shared this afternoon, Manchester Pride added that they have been unsuccessfully seeking ‘financial opportunities’ to find a ‘positive solution’.

Manchester Pride wrote: “We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners.

“Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.”

Manchester Pride’s statement in full

It is with enormous sadness that we announce that Manchester Pride has started the legal process of voluntary liquidation.

A combination of rising costs, which are affecting the entire events and hospitality industries, declining ticket sales and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues, along with an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride, has led to the organisation no longer being financially viable.

We regret the delays in communicating the current situation; however, we were keen not to jeopardise financial opportunities while our discussions were ongoing. We were proactive and determined to identify solutions to the financial issues. We’ve been actively working with several partners, including legal and financial advisors, to do everything we could to find a positive solution. We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners. Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.

The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated at this situation and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant. We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves. We would like to sincerely offer our thanks to all of our staff, volunteers and supporters who have contributed so much to Manchester Pride over the years.

The organisation has achieved a great deal since its creation and, in particular, since the Covid pandemic. This includes:

● 237,000 visitors to the city

● £104.8m of economic impact

● 148 grants being made to grass roots community groups

● Positive positioning of Manchester as an inclusive city

We hope and believe that this leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the Pride movement in Greater Manchester, and that it will continue long into the future. We will do everything we can to support this moving forward.

The Manchester Pride team have now handed over the details of suppliers and artists who are owed money to the liquidators who will be handling the affairs of the Charity and contacting everyone.

Board of Trustees, Manchester Pride

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Greater Manchester Police release latest image of elderly missing woman last seen in Oldham

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Greater Manchester Police have released a new image of an elderly missing woman after she was last seen in the Oldham area.

The 76-year-old lady, named only as Susette, who is believed to be from the Shaw area, was most recently spotted on Oak Street at approximately 8:56pm this past Monday, 20 October.

Officers and locals alike are understandably growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Susette is described as an older white female, around 5’4″ in height, with a slim build and light blonde/greyish hair. You can see the latest sighting of her down below.

Have you seen Susette? (Credit: GMP handout)

Police previously stated that she had been seen wearing a blue anorak, blue jeans, a beige jumper with black stripes and black trainers with white trim.

However, as you can see, she has since been spotted in a similar outfit, apart from now wearing a cream jacket, black trousers and black ‘running-style’ trainers with a white sole.

It is also now understood that she has dementia and is therefore considered vulnerable.

Local Liberal Democrat and councillor, Howard Sykes MBE, has also asked his fellow constituents to remain vigilant and come forward with any and all potentially useful information they may have.

Sharing another photo of her via his official online blog, he went on to add: “Please can we ask anyone with any information to please contact GMP and to keep a lookout when out and about in the community to ensure Susette is found safe and well.”

It is believed that she is still on foot and will be in and around the Oldham area.

Anyone with any info is urged to get in touch with the authorities immediately so officers can ensure she is safe and well.

If you can help, simply get in touch via 101 quoting log 3670 of 20/10/2025; in case of emergency, dial 999 right away.

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Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police/Handout (via Howard Sykes MBE website)

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