A dramatic incident unfolded on Monday evening, 21 April, in the area between Bury and Heywood when a car nearly crashed into a residential garden after rolling down an embankment. The vehicle had been parked in a nearby car park before it reversed down a verge behind homes on Lord Street at around 5pm.
A local homeowner, who preferred to remain anonymous, recounted the harrowing moment when the car hurtled towards his garden while children were playing on a trampoline nearby. He explained, "We live at the bottom of a steep [slope] to a church. There is a car park there but no barriers. The kids were outside on the trampoline. Then we heard this big bang." The driver had apparently attempted to reverse or turn the vehicle and lost control going down the hill. The car hit a tree on its way down, which prevented it from landing directly in the garden or on a neighbouring property.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. Firefighters and paramedics used the homeowner’s back garden to gain access. Two people were extracted safely from the vehicle, with no serious injuries reported. The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) issued a statement: “Just after 5pm this evening (Monday 21st April), two fire engines from Heywood and Bury Central fire station were called to reports of a car hanging over the edge of a pathway near Heap Brow, Heywood. Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters used specialist equipment to secure the car and get two people out of the vehicle safely. Firefighters were in attendance for around an hour.”
The car was eventually hoisted back up the embankment by the fire service using specialist equipment. The homeowner added, "The fire service have hoisted the car up and managed to move it eventually… There wasn't any real damage and the emergency services were excellent."
Photographs from the scene show fire crews managing the rescue operation, highlighting the swift and effective response by emergency personnel. The incident has drawn attention to the lack of barriers in the car park, situated beside a steep drop near a church on Lord Street.
The Manchester Evening News is reporting on this event, providing details of the rescue and the experiences shared by those involved.
Source: Noah Wire Services