Fire service charged over death

Paul Metcalf drowned trying to save a teenager's life

The fire service in Greater Manchester is to be prosecuted over the death of an officer who drowned during a rescue attempt.

The Health and Safety Executive is taking the action over the death of part-time firefighter Paul Metcalf.

Mr Metcalf, 40, from Ramsbottom in Bury, drowned in September 1999 after his lifeline became snagged on branches as he tried to save 16-year-old Reyaz Ali.

Reyaz, a New Zealander from Holcombe Brook, Bury, was studying at the nearby Darul Uloom Islamic College.

He was with friends when he swung on a rope into the lake. His body was recovered later.

Official complaint

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "The prosecution will be concerned with breaches of the duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974."

Last month, Mr Metcalf's family made an official complaint against Greater Manchester chief fire officer Barry Dixon.

The family had previously failed in an attempt to force the Crown Prosecution Service to bring a charge of corporate manslaughter against the service.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire Authority said it had fully co-operated with the inquiries of the Health and Safety Executive.

It added: "A full internal investigation has also been undertaken and the full content of that investigation was supplied to the Health and Safety Executive."