Paramedics announce death of person thought to be in his 50s after rescue operation

A man who was trapped at the top of Dixon’s Chimney in Carlisle has died, police have confirmed. Paramedics announced that the man, thought to be in his 50s and from Carlisle, died at the scene at 4.46pm.

Police were called at 2.22am on Monday to reports of a man trapped on the top of the chimney in Cumbria. A multi-agency response was launched, which involved Cumbria police, Cumbria fire and rescue services, and North West ambulance service.

Supt Matt Kennerley of Cumbria police said: “All agencies worked as quickly as possible to try and rescue the man. The operation involved road closures, the use of drones to assess the scene, a helicopter, and a cherry-picker brought in from Glasgow. All this was done with the aim of bringing the man down safely and while maintaining the safety of emergency services staff.”

The man, who has not been named, was recovered after the cherry-picker was used to transport specialist technicians and a team from Lancashire fire and rescue trained to work at height to the top of the chimney to lower him down. The team brought the man down using a specialist crane and rope access equipment.

Kennerley added: “The thoughts of all the emergency services and partners are with the family and friends of the man. Specialist welfare police officers are supporting his family at this difficult time.

“An investigation will commence into the circumstances into how and why the man was on the chimney and the constabulary will be informing Her Majesty’s coroner.”

Cumbria fire and rescue service made a public appeal for a cherry-picker or aerial work platform and one arrived shortly after 2pm. A Coastguard helicopter attempted a rescue earlier on Monday, but the operation was aborted because of the man’s precarious position.

The man had been unresponsive since late in the morning and had been exposed to cold temperatures with little clothing.

Stuart Kilpatrick, 33, a gas engineer, had been watching the rescue attempt unfold since 2pm. He said: “Its disturbing and a bit surreal to see it happen right in front of you. The chimney is the focal point of the city – you can look out your window and see it – so the incident was harrowing. I don’t know the story behind it, but it’s been absolutely freezing, everyone’s car was frozen.”

Roads around the Dixon’s Chimney, a prominent local landmark built in 1836, were closed for the rescue operation. The structure is Grade II listed and when built was the largest chimney in the country, according to a citation on the Historic England website.

Local reports said shouts and wailing could be heard coming from the chimney in the early hours of the morning before police arrived.