Dovestone Reservoir emergency search and police statement after two people go into water

A large emergency service response is underway at Dovestone Reservoir in Greater Manchester tonight

A major search and rescue operation is continuing this evening to find a man in the Dovestone reservoir, on the western edge of the Peak District in Greater Manchester. Emergency services responded to the incident on Sunday afternoon, with police, firefighters and paramedics in attendance.

The Manchester Evening News understands a man and a woman in their 20s, thought to be a couple, had entered the water around 2.30pm on a paddleboard. They both reportedly fell in and the man later got into difficulty.

The woman was rescued and treated for hypothermia and shock. Search efforts including fire crews and specialist police diver units have been deployed on boats as part of a huge rescue mission to find the man, who is still missing in the water.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed one person has been recovered from the water and is being treated by paramedics - however the second person has still not been located.

Attempts are being made to find the second person with search boats, underwater rescue units and all emergency services, including the Coastguard and Mountain Rescue, currently at the scene.

Visitors are being asked to stay away from the area, which is located on the edge of Oldham and the Peak District National Park, while searches are being carried out. A police officer told the MEN that the 'whole reservoir has been closed' and several roads also shut.

The search continued after darkness fell, with conditions in Manchester reported to be very wet and windy due to Storm Ashley.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Underwater teams will continue to search Dovestone Reservoir overnight. The scene will be in place overnight and people are reminded to stay away from the search area.

"We are not stopping our search and are doing everything we can to locate the missing man. Thank you for your cooperation."