News
Tameside bin crew rescue man from burning home
The trio have been hailed as heroes.
Three Tameside binmen have been commended for their “swift and brave actions” after saving a man from a burning building whilst doing their rounds last week.
The trio – Lee Hewitt, Anthony Hibbert and Stephen Rhodes – were at work as normal on a street in Ashton-under-Lyne last week when they suddenly noticed smoke billowing from a nearby house and went to take a closer look.
The back door to the property had been left ajar, and when the crew stepped inside they found a man on the floor struggling to breathe.
They quickly carried the injured person to safety and alerted neighbours to evacuate.
Three fire engines arrived on the scene and found a sofa burning on the ground floor of the property.
After more than two-and-a-half hours on the scene, the flames were successfully extinguished.
The injured man was treated by North West Ambulance Service.
Tameside Council Director of Operations and neighbourhoods Ian Saxon said the bin crew’s “selfless dedication” was a reflection of how frontline staff were “an integral part of the community.”
“They make me feel very proud of our colleagues,” he added.
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service Group Manager for Stockport and Tameside Phil Nelson said there could have been “deadly consequences” had it not been for the quick-thinking bin crew.
“Not only did they help the resident from the property but by alerting us to the fire we were able to respond quickly and extinguish the fire before more damage was done,” he stated.
“If you do come across a fire at home, remember to get out, stay out and call 999 – don’t try to tackle the fire yourself.
“This incident is a reminder that we all need to be careful at home and consider what we can do to keep ourselves safe from fire, such as installing smoke alarms throughout our properties.”
You can find more information on fire safety at home on the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue website.
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
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Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Read more:
“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.
You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.
Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)
The Manc -
29th April 2021 
