Wigan pensioner tells of life-saving rescue mission

The 73-year-old was conscious but badly hurt, up to his waist in water and was unable to climb to safety.

Fortunately, a combined effort from rescue crews, paramedics and even his own relatives, meant that Allan is now recovering at home in Higher Ince after suffering several injuries including a broken shoulder.

However, he was in no doubt that he would have died without the quick thinking and actions of those who rescued him.

The retired headteacher, who was once in charge of St George’s Central in Tyldesley, said; “They saved my life, so I’m very, very lucky.”

He said: “We went for a waterfall walk and on the way back, I was coming along the path and there were some steps, and I slipped and went rolling down the slope into the river. When I landed in the river, I was really struggling but I managed to get hold of a tree root and pull myself up so I could breathe. But I kept going under the water.”

Mark Rogerson, whose aunt Vivian is Allan’s partner, was also on the trail as part of their social bubble. Despite a fear of heights, he leapt into action when he saw Allan fall down the hillside.

He said: “I didn’t even see him slip. Allan was behind me and I heard my aunty scream. When I turned around, I could just see him hit the rocks at the bottom, land on his back and bounce into the river.

“You could see him lying in the water, covered in blood. I thought ‘If I don’t get down there, he’s going to drown, so I started climbing down the side of the gorge.

“I got in the water and dragged him to the side by grabbing his rucksack, and got him up onto the rocks.”

Allan said: “How [Mark] got down there I don’t know, but he got hold of the straps on my rucksack, and onto a ledge, and held me there until the rescuers came. My head was bleeding profusely so he also bandaged me up with his t-shirt.”

Officers from North Yorkshire Police were quickly on the scene after the alarm was raised, as were volunteers from the Cave and Mountain Rescue team, who rigged ropes to lift and haul Allan back up to the path on a stretcher.

He was then rushed to hospital to be treated, but was later released to recuperate at home.

He said: “They saved my life, so I’m very, very lucky. I just wanted to get across how good they were. I know they are used to it and train for this, but they were so efficient and working as a team. That’s what saved me. It makes be a bit emotional.”

He added: “If Mark hadn’t got down there so quickly and got me out of the water, I would’ve been swept away.”