Man survives bridge fall (From Warrington Guardian)

Motorist leapt 93 ft from viaduct

2:09pm Tuesday 18th October 2011 in Thelwall

A MAN has had a miraculous escape after plummeting 93 feet from the Thelwall Viaduct into the Manchester Ship Canal on Friday.

Witnesses said following the suspected botched suicide attempt, the man, believed to be in his early 30s, was waving after landing in the water below and swam to the bank.

Police were called at 5pm after reports from motorists a car was parked by the barriers of the Thelwall Viaduct, junction 20 to 21, on the M6 northbound carriagway and a man had ‘fallen’ from the viaduct.

A police spokesman said: “Emergency services and highway officers quickly attended the scene and established that the man had landed in the water below and made his way back to the bank.

“He was taken by ambulance to hospital where the impact of the fall will be assessed by medical staff.

“There was no disruption to the M6.”