A man and his carer have died after falling into a canal near Wigan.

Greater Manchester Police said Aaron Ritchie, 49, and his 60-year-old carer, who has not been named, came into difficulty at Crank Wood canal in the afternoon on 28 November.

Emergency services attended the scene and the men were rescued from the water by specialists.

Medical teams attempted to save them, but both men died later in hospital.

The family of Aaron’s carer have been informed of his death.

Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious as police continue their investigation.

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Aaron’s family have paid tribute to him being “a loveable character”.

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They said: “It’s come as a complete shock to us as a family surrounding the tragic accident of what happened on Tuesday afternoon.

“Aaron was a loveable character who made a big impression on everyone who knew him.

“Aaron had special needs and he loved the outdoor life and as long as he had his puzzles, laces, and spinning tops he was happy. Aaron is surely going to be missed by us as a family.”

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They passed on “sincere condolences” to the carer’s family and thanked the efforts of the emergency services.

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