Carlisle Dixons chimney: Man stuck at top of 290ft structure
Carlisle Dixons chimney: Man stuck on 290ft structure has died
(about 2 hours later)
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.
A man who was stuck upside down at the top of a 290ft former mill chimney for about 15 hours has died.
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 but an attempt to rescue him with a helicopter was abandoned.
Footage from the scene appears to show a figure with his legs in the air.
A specialist cherry picker from Scotland was drafted in to help and the man was brought down shortly before 17:00 GMT.
A specialist cherry picker from Scotland has been drafted in to help with the rescue effort.
Cumbria Police confirmed shortly after that he was dead.
Roads around the prominent listed local landmark, which was built in 1836, have been closed.
A spokesman said they knew the identity of the man and specialist officers were assisting his family.
'Precarious position'
He said while the man had responded to rescuers earlier, there had been no contact for "some hours" before the specialist team from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service used the cherry picker to reach him.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said they knew the identity of the man and specialist officers were assisting his family.
Supt Matt Kennerley earlier said attempts to rescue the man using a helicopter had "not been possible due to the precarious position the man is in and the potential for back-draft 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.
Roads around the prominent listed local landmark, which was built in 1836, were closed during the rescue operation.
"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.
Volunteers from the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team and the coastguard helicopter were also at the scene.
"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.
"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.
