A MAN has died after being found in the River Brun which flows through a Burnley park.


Police, fire and paramedics were called to Thompson Park, at around 12.30pm yesterday, after reports a man was in the water close to the Leeds and Liverpool canal bridge.

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The area is next to the children’s play area in the park, which was busy with families enjoying the sunshine.


Police said a 29-year-old man from the Burnley area was found in the water.


Paramedics tried to revive the man for around 30 minutes but were unsuccessful.

Police cleared the families from the park as the man was treated but he was later pronounced dead.


There was a massive response by emergency services after the alarm was raised, including the arrival of the air ambulance.


Police officers and paramedics were seen sprinting from the park entrance to the scene.


Joanne Hermitt, 29, from Brierfield, was enjoying an afternoon in the park with her husband Melly and son Bentley, who is one.


She said: “We were at the play area pushing Bentley on the swings when we saw police officers running over the grass from the entrance.


“Others were on the towpath next to the canal, I think there were seven or eight of them.


“They were sprinting and there was obviously a very serious situation.
“There were six or seven police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines.


“The officers had gone to the side of the water and had pulled the man to the pebbles on the side.


“There were quite a lot of people in the park at the time, everyone was really shocked and concerned about what was happening.


“At about 1.50pm the helicopter landed on the grass and a park ranger and police officers cleared everyone away and out of the park.


“They were at the gate preventing anyone coming in.


“It’s upsetting to hear someone has died and my thoughts are with his family. It’s terrible to think this was going on so close, but people were unaware and couldn’t help.”


Officers said they were not treating his death as suspicious at this time.


Police said a report would be passed to the coroner who will begin an investigation into the circumstances of the man’s death.