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Carlisle chimney: Man stuck at top of 290ft structure Carlisle Dixons chimney: Man stuck at top of 290ft structure
(about 3 hours later)
A rescue operation is under way to free a man who has become trapped at the top of a 290ft tall former mill chimney. A man stuck upside down at the top of a 290ft former mill chimney in Carlisle "has not responded" to rescuers for some time, police said.
Emergency services were called to Dixons Chimney in Carlisle at about 02:20 GMT and a helicopter has been hovering near the top of the structure.Emergency services were called to Dixons Chimney in Carlisle at about 02:20 GMT and a helicopter has been hovering near the top of the structure.
Footage from the scene appears to show a figure upside down with his legs in the air at the top of the chimney. Footage from the scene appears to show a figure with his legs in the air.
Firefighters have appealed for "anyone who has a cherry picker in excess of 90 metres within Cumbria" to contact them. A specialist cherry picker from Scotland has been drafted in to help with the rescue effort.
Roads around the prominent local landmark, which was built in 1836, have been closed. Roads around the prominent listed local landmark, which was built in 1836, have been closed.
'Precarious position''Precarious position'
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Emergency services have been working to safely resolve the situation at Dixons Chimney, including the use of a helicopter. A Cumbria Police spokesman said they knew the identity of the man and specialist officers were assisting his family.
"However, rescue has not been possible due to the precarious position the man is in and the potential for backdraft to worsen the situation. "Emergency services have been working to safely resolve the situation at Dixons Chimney, including the use of a helicopter," Supt Matt Kennerley added.
"Effort are ongoing to reach the man from below." "However, rescue has not been possible due to the precarious position the man is in and the potential for back-draft to worsen the situation.
"Efforts are ongoing to reach the man from below."
He said while the man had responded to rescuers earlier, there had been no contact for "some hours".
However, he added the operation was still being classed as a rescue.
A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "This is a very complex and difficult process given the obvious dangers to the man and the extreme difficulty in gaining access to him in a way which will keep him and emergency services safe.A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "This is a very complex and difficult process given the obvious dangers to the man and the extreme difficulty in gaining access to him in a way which will keep him and emergency services safe.
"I can assure the public that the emergency services are working tirelessly and effectively together to resolve this issues safely for all and that the protection of life is our first priority." "I can assure the public that the emergency services are working tirelessly and effectively together to resolve this issue safely for all and that the protection of life is our first priority."
Volunteers from the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team, the coastguard helicopter and a rope access crew from Lancashire Fire Service are also at the scene.Volunteers from the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team, the coastguard helicopter and a rope access crew from Lancashire Fire Service are also at the scene.
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