Dog walker dies after canal rescue

A DOG walker has died after being pulled from a canal in South Yorkshire on Saturday night.

It is understood that a police officer was first on the scene and offered a lifeline to the 39-year-old man from the bank of the canal, which lies behind Akbar’s restaurant in Meadowbank Road, Rotherham.

After the man couldn’t be rescued, specialist water crews were called from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

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A spokesman for the fire service said yesterday: “Firefighters were called to Meadowbank in Rotherham just after 7.40pm on Saturday night, following reports of a man in the canal.

“Two fire engines from Rotherham and Rivelin stations, along with the technical rescue unit and the incident support unit, attended the scene.

“The Swift Water Rescue team wearing dry suits searched the canal and banking. They found a man in the water and quickly dragged him out.

“The man was left with paramedics at the scene. Fire crews left the incident just after 10.30pm.”

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The man was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital but died in the early hours of yesterday.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “The death is not thought to be suspicious. The circumstances are unclear at this time but we understand the man had been walking dogs by the canal.”

The victim, who is said to be aged 39 and from the Rotherham area, has not yet been officially identified.