A MAN and his service dog have tragically died following a devastating fire on a canal boat on Christmas Day.
Emergency services were called to the scene in the early hours, where firefighters battled the blaze for around 13 hours.
The incident took place on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke Hall Moorings in the village of Crooke, near Standish and Wigan.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed: “Officers were called to reports of a fire on a canal boat at Crooke Hall Moorings, Standish, at around 3.30am yesterday morning (December 25).
“Sadly, the body of a man and his service dog were found on the boat.
“Formal identification of the victim has yet to take place.
“A scene is currently in place with an investigation ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Just after 3.30am yesterday morning (Friday December 23), three fire engines from Wigan and Hindley, along with the Technical Response Unit from Leigh and Water Incident Unit from Eccles, attended an incident on Crooke Road, Wigan.
“Firefighters were in attendance for around thirteen hours.”
The area features a private marina capable of accommodating 90 boats alongside the popular canal-side pub, the Crooke Hall Inn, which offers visitor moorings, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The village is situated at a scenic spot on the bend of the River Douglas, about three miles from Wigan town centre.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Earlier today, it was reported that two swimmers remain missing at sea after a festive Christmas Day dip turned to horror amid treacherous waves on a Devon beach.
Hundreds of swimmers in Santa hats braved the freezing conditions at Budleigh Salterton, only for massive waves to sweep people into difficulty around 10.25am.
A huge search operation was launched, involving RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, coastguard helicopters, and rescue teams scouring the Jurassic Coast.
Several swimmers were rescued, with two treated at the scene and one hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.
The desperate search continued all day but was stood down at 5pm on Christmas Day, with the two missing men – one in his 40s and one in his 60s – still unaccounted for.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed: “Both men remain missing following this incident off Budleigh Salterton beach on Christmas Day.
“Police enquiries are ongoing. A police presence remains at the scene.
“Following extensive shoreline and offshore searches, HM Coastguard stood down its response at 5pm on Christmas Day.
“Anyone with any relevant information which may assist police is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.”
Visitor Melissa Hill said to the MailOnline: “The coastguards have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off from.
“They are overlooking the area where this happened. It is such an awful thing to have happened. The conditions are dreadful. The sea is cold.
“The wind is strong, and the waves are crashing in. I can’t believe anyone went into the water when it was like this.”
