A red plaque has been installed at Ramsbottom Fire Station to commemorate firefighter Paul Metcalf, who died in 1999 during a water rescue attempt. The plaque, unveiled by the Fire Brigades Union, was attended by members of his family and the current County Fire Officer, Dave Russel, more than 25 years after the tragedy.
On September 5, 1999, Sub Officer Metcalf, aged 40, and his crew responded to a call at Simons Lodge, Hawkshaw, where a boy had slipped into the water from a rope swing. Metcalf, a karate black belt, dived in but his non-floating rope became snagged on an underwater branch. Despite efforts to save him, he was pulled under and died soon after in hospital.
Legacy of Safety Changes
Paul's death directly led to the introduction of water safety and rescue equipment on frontline fire appliances nationally, including the replacement of traditional hemp lines with floating nylon line. The tragedy also cast a shadow over Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for years, as the truth emerged at an inquest and a subsequent court case.
Just days after the tragedy, the Manchester Evening News revealed claims that Paul's death could have been avoided if safety advice in a report from two years previously had been acted on. The leaked report showed that detailed proposals were made in 1997 to improve safety for firefighters dealing with water rescues, listing equipment such as immersion suits, life jackets, throw bags, and safety lines with quick-release harnesses.
Inquest and Court Case
The inquest, which began a year to the day after Paul died, heard harrowing evidence. The jury was told that Mr Metcalf died through a catalogue of failure, including no specific operational procedures for water rescues, a lack of awareness of potential hazards, and unsatisfactory communication. The inquest returned an open verdict on Mr Metcalf's death and a misadventure verdict on 15-year-old Reyaz Ali, who also died.
In February 2004, Mr Dixon, as Greater Manchester's Chief Fire Officer, was cleared of neglect in connection with the case. The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the service for alleged breaches of health and safety regulations, but a jury found the Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority not guilty on October 22, 2004. The court heard that since Mr Metcalf's death, all fire engines in Greater Manchester had been equipped with life jackets, floating lines, and inflatable hoses, and all 1,850 frontline firefighters had received specialist water rescue training.
Family's Tribute
Paul's twin brother, Michel, attended the plaque unveiling and said he bore no animosity to the fire service. He said: "I think the tribute to Paul is a good idea as is any to firefighters who have died doing the job. I live a mile from the station so it will be nice to have it on the front so everyone can see it."
Steve Wright, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "Paul Metcalf's brave and selfless actions are a testament to the very real dangers firefighters face when they attempt to rescue members of the public. Because of the tragedy of what happened to Paul, fire services across the UK changed the way they work in water with specialist equipment being introduced, and firefighters are now safer today as a result."
