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Eric's lesson had sudden drop in interest

17/ 6/2006

ONE moment he was sat in his parked car - the next he was plunging 30-feet into the River Roch.

Eric Sutcliffe, a 44-year-old from Water Street, was demonstrating the controls of the vehicle to his sister, Alice, who was standing at the side, when the freak accident occurred on Sunday 2 August 1959.

The car, which was parked in an entry off Water Street, suddenly shot forward and hit a wooden trailer which, in turn, ripped down iron railings which were guarding the 30-foot drop.

First the trailer then the car, with Mr Sutcliffe still at the wheel, plunged into the river.

Mr Sutcliffe managed to get out and swim to the side, where he was helped out by a group of people, including Herbert Fowden, who had heard the car smack into the water.

He was taken to Rochdale Infirmary with slight head injuries.

Afterwards Mr Fowden, who was in his insurance office overlooking the river at the time, said: "I heard a series of loud bangs and, on going outside, heard Mr Sutcliffe's sister screaming.

"Mr Sutcliffe was swimming on his back and his face was covered with blood.

"I scrambled down the banking and helped him to safety. He does not know how he got out of the car and neither do I. He was certainly a fortunate man."