At 14:02 today, Greater Manchester Police contacted the team for assistance regarding a 79 year old resident of Smithills, Bolton, missing from home, with Police being very concerned for his well being.
A comprehensive localised search was then planned, centred particularly on the Lower Rivington Reservoir area. Prior to a full member assembly at the Knowle House car park search control, some team members were involved in search planning and setting up the MRT search control joint with the GMP Missing Person Search Manager.
From 17:30 onwards, 39 Bolton MRT team members, including one member of our Support Group made themselves available for the search. With the search area likely to extend to the Upper Rivington Reservoir, our colleagues in Bowland Pennine MRT responded with 26 team members.
A three person Kayak search unit from the Bolton team was also deployed onto the waters of Lower Rivington Reservoir. As ground search parties were about to be deployed, and three GMP Police dog teams had completed their taskings, the Police Underwater Search Unit also arrived to take part in the growing operation.
At 18:45 a Kayak searcher from the Bolton MRT located the body of a person in the Crosse’s Creek area of Lower Rivington Reservoir, in the water. The two other Kayakers then helped secure the area, joined by other Bolton MRT members who provided an inner and outer cordon area. In a joint operation with GMP and Lancashire Constabulary officers, including LANCON CSI officers, members of Bolton MRT and the Underwater Search Unit initially recovered the body to the bankside. The man’s body was then evacuated by team members to the search control point, where a rendezvous was made with the coroner.
During this operation, our colleagues in Bowland Pennine MRT were stood down. The incident closed at 22:30.
Police have yet to confirm the identity of the body located, but enquiries for the missing person have now concluded.
The condolences of the team are extended to the family of the missing man.
This incident is illustrative of the close liaison and excellent working relationship the team has with GMP and LANCON.
