A WALKER is lucky to be alive after falling 25 metres down a steep embankment into the River Irwell near Prestolee.

Firefighters found the 56-year-old man trapped at the bottom of the embankment, near Kearsley Mill, struggling to keep his head above water after a farmer raised the alarm at about 1pm today.

The man was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital in an air ambulance, and was suffering back, leg and neck pain.

Crews from Bolton Central, Farnworth and a specialist water incident unit from Eccles were called to the incident, off Seddon Lane.

Rescue lines, buoyancy aids and specialist water rescue equipment were used to rescue the man from the river bank.

Station manager Phil Nelson, from Farnworth fire station, who was in charge of the incident, said: “The man had been out for a walk and has slipped down a very steep river bank.

“The crew did a fantastic job to locate him quickly and stabilise him.

"He was very lucky to survive — if he had fallen a bit further he would have drowned in the river.

“The man has sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital by air ambulance — the helicopter crew did an amazing job to get so close to the incident."

Mr Nelson urged people to take care while out walking during the recent sunny weather.

He added: "Now the weather is getting warmer and people are spending more time outside I would urge them to take care near water especially steep river banks.

"This man has narrowly escaped with his life, but the next person who falls down a steep river bank might not be so lucky.”

The crew also worked closely with a hazardous area response team from the North West Ambulance Service to keep the man comfortable while he was being rescued.