Man trapped on chimney pronounced dead by paramedics

A man who had been stuck at the top of a 290ft chimney in Carlisle has been pronounced deceased by paramedics.

The man was spotted at the top of Dixon's Chimney at 2:30am.Police sealed off all the surrounding streets while emergency services attended the incident.

A cherry picker was used to transport specialist technicians and specialist firefighters trained to work at height to the top of the chimney to lower him down.

He had not responded for several hours, but officers still treated it as a rescue operation.

Paramedics pronounced the man, in his 50s and from Carlisle, deceased at the scene at around 4.45pm. He had been stuck for more than 12 hours.

The highly complex rescue operation involved police, Cumbria and Lancashire fire and rescue services, the North West Ambulance Service, the Coastguard, mountain rescuers and specialist contractors.

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.

According to earlier witnesses, the man could be heard shouting from the chimney in the early hours of this morning before police arrived on the scene. He was said to be dangling by his clothes from a ladder.

The police say the man is from the Carlisle area, however his identity is not being released as of yet. Specialist officers are working with his family.

Road closures were put in place at Stanhope Road, Charlotte Street and Shaddongate where it meets Bridge Street (A595). They have no reopened to the public.

Supt Kennerley added: “We would like to thank the public for their patience as we work to safely rescue this man.

“We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to the public and businesses.”

More on this as we get it.