Mountain Rescue volunteers helped with the major mission to save hundreds of people from flooded flats and a hotel in Didsbury and Stockport on New Year’s Day.
A major incident was declared when horrendous flooding hit parts of the region, prompting emergency responses in he worst-hit areas of Didsbury, Trafford, Stockport and Wigan.
Police revealed at least 1,300 people had been evacuated due to the severe flooding, after heavy rainfall caused havoc throughout the evening and left roads completely submerged, caused rivers and canals to burst their banks and water climbing up apartment blocks, homes and hotels.
Rescue teams in Didsbury on New Year’s Day
(Image: JMG Press)
Bolton Mountain Rescue teams were called to assist with the emergency response in Stockport and Didsbury. A car park and the ground floor of apartments at the Meadow Mill complex. The car park and ground floor at Meadow Mill building became completely submerged following the biblical rainfall on New Year’s Eve, with water rapidly rising up the stairs of the flats.
And in Didsbury, Palatine Road became completely flooded. Boats were dispatched to rescue hundreds from the Britannia Country Park Hotel and nearby flats. Residents told the M.E.N how people became ‘trapped’ in their homes with young children as homes and the hotel experienced power cuts.
Flats were evacuated in Didsbury with boats sent to rescue occupants
(Image: Bolton Mountain Rescue)
The mountain rescue team revealed that 469 people in total were rescued from flooded properties and offered alternative accommodation for the night.
A post said: “On New Year’s Day team members were requested to assist with the major incident response to flooding in Stockport and Didsbury, following a number of preparatory calls held on New Year’s Eve and in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
A type-B (powered boat) water rescue team was initially mobilised to support a response to flooding at a large block of apartments in Stockport, attended by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Kinder Mountain Rescue Team and Glossop Mountain Rescue Team.
“We attended with team members qualified in water rescue along with rescue equipment – namely rafts and powered boats. Floodwater at this location had largely subsided by our arrival and we were quickly stood down from that scene.
“We were then asked to assist Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) at Palatine Road in Didsbury, to support the evacuation of a flooded hotel, as well as residents from nearby apartment blocks and houses cut off by floodwater. All had no access to electricity or central heating, due to an associated power cut in the area.
The completely submerged car park at a flat block in Didsbury
(Image: Bolton Mountain Rescue)
“A huge multi-agency operation began in earnest here at around 4pm involving Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust HART, ourselves, Kinder Mountain Rescue Team and Cheshire Search and Rescue supported by Transport for Greater Manchester, the local council, and Didsbury Mosque. We believe a total of 469 people were rescued from flooded properties and offered alternative accommodation.”
The major incident that was declared on New Year’s Day was later stood down on Thursday (January 2).