Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, after a full morning of telephone liaison calls with colleague MRTs / SART, Lancashire Constabulary, GMP, and NWAS, regarding the worsening and very wet weather conditions, was requested by NWAS Greater Manchester Area, to place the full Bolton MRT on Base / HQ standby, as a result of the inclement weather and its likely impacts.

A full team call out was paged at 11.21hrs, and as team members, including our Team Leader, were assembling at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at 11.41hrs, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, was directly contacted by GMP to respond to an urgent local serious situation.

A ground floor property on Chorley New Road, Bolton, had totally flooded, with concerns for the welfare of the male resident, reported to be present within the building.

With GMFRS already in attendance at other multiple incidents, GMP had turned to Bolton MRT to seek any immediate assistance.

A team Land Rover, with three crew on board, was despatched from our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at 11.54hrs, one of the crew being dressed for water rescue.

Arriving on scene at 12.00hrs, to meet a GMP Officer also despatched, our responding crew was fortunately informed that the resident was safe and well and had not actually been in the property.

Other Bolton MRT appropriate resources, about to join in this incident were stood down.

A false alarm call with good intent – better to be safe than sorry.