A man has suffered serious injuries after falling from a digger during a police stand-off.
Emergency services were called to reports of concern for the welfare of a man in Woodend Lane, Hyde, at about 12.30pm on Sunday (June 4). The 28-year-old man, who was identified as a missing person, was reported to have been 'behaving erratically and aggressively'.
After police used Pava spray in an attempt to 'de-escalate the situation', the man made his way to a nearby scrapyard where he climbed the arm of a digger and fell. He suffered serious injuries that 'may be life changing' and was taken to hospital for treatment, Greater Manchester Police said.
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Eyewitnesses reported seeing an air ambulance land in the area following the incident while a police cordon was in place at a scrapyard off Raglan Street. Pictures showed several emergency services vehicles, including a fire engine and an ambulance, at the scene.
GMP said its Professional Standards Branch had launched an investigation into the incident, although there is 'no indication that officers from GMP behaved inappropriately'.
Superintendent Mike Allen, Head of GMP's Professional Standards Branch, said: “In line with procedure, this matter was immediately reported to Greater Manchester Police's Professional Standards Branch and referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for review.
“IOPC have determined not to carry out an independent enquiry at this time and as such the investigation into the serious injuries sustained will remain with GMP’s Professional Standards Branch.
“The investigation is ongoing however initial enquiries give no indication that officers from GMP behaved inappropriately. A full and thorough review of all the circumstances surrounding this incident will be carried out and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time until this is complete.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just before 1pm on Sunday, June 4, two fire engines from Ashton and Hyde fire station along with the Technical Response Unit from Ashton and the Water Incident Unit from Eccles were called to an incident at Woodend Lane, Hyde. Crews arrived quickly at the scene and were in attendance for around two hours. ”
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