Wigan man and his carer die after being pulled from canal

Mr Ritchie's family said he was "loveable" and "made a big impression on everyone who knew him"

A man and his carer have died after being pulled from a canal, police have said.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Aaron Ritchie, 49, and his 60-year-old carer, who has not been named, entered the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Abram, near Leigh, on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services took the pair to hospital where they later died.

Paying tribute, Mr Ritchie's family said he was "loveable" and "made a big impression on everyone who knew him".

GMP said their deaths were not being treated as suspicious, but officers were continuing to work at the canal to try and establish what had happened.

'Sincere condolences'

A force representative said officers were sent to the scene at about 14:15 GMT on Tuesday.

"The men were retrieved from the water by specialist personnel [and] life-saving intervention was conducted by medical staff," they said.

"Sadly, both males tragically passed away later in hospital."

Mr Ritchie's family said his death had come as "a complete shock" and he was "surely going to be missed".

They said he "loved the outdoor life and as long as he had his puzzles, laces and spinning tops, he was happy".

The family added that they wanted to pass their "sincere condolences to his carer's family" and offer "a special thank you to the emergency services who attended trying to save them".

GMP said the family of Mr Ritchie's carer had been informed of his death.