A NARROWBOAT CAUGHT FIRE on Christmas Day at Crooke Hall moorings on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
Perished in the fire
With a man who was disabled together with his assistance dog both perishing in the fire, I Dugald Campbell reports.
The fire was so intense it required fire crews and three fire engines to control the blaze that could be seen for many miles.
Police, paramedics and firefighters descended on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Crooke Marina at Standish, at around 3.30am on Christmas morning, with a police investigation now underway.
Formal identification of the victim has yet to take place and the site is secured.
Police called
A statement from Greater Manchester Police revealed:
"Officers were called to reports of a fire on a canal boat at Crooke Hall Moorings, Standish, at around 3.30am yesterday morning (December 25).
"Sadly, the body of a man and his service dog were found on the boat. Formal identification of the victim has yet to take place.
"A scene is currently in place with an investigation ongoing."
Firefighters were in attendance for around 13 hours with three fire engines from Wigan and Hindley, together with the Technical Response Unit from Leigh and the Water Incident Unit from Eccles.