Thousands join calls for safety railings along Greater Manchester's canal system
A petition's been launched to put an end to the number of people falling into the waterways.
Last updated 6th Mar 2018
More than 15,000 people have signed their name on a petition calling for safety railings to be installed along Greater Manchester's canal system following the death of a student from the University of Manchester.
19-year-old Charlie Pope's body was pulled from the Rochdale canal at the weekend following a night out in the city centre.
He's the latest of a number of people who have fallen to their death around the waterways in recent years.
The Change.org campaign has quickly gained momentum since its launch three days ago with many of those signing sharing their own tragic experiences of losing loved ones in the water.
Michelle Hawkins commented: "My son's father was one of the people to have fallen I there and sadly lost he's life."
Claire Turner said: "My daughter is a student in Manchester & recently lost her friend."
Kelly White added: "My brother was one of the unfortunate one's that lost his life here."
The petition calls on Greater Manchester's Mayor Andy Burnham to take action along with other local authorities: "People keep dying by falling into the canals around Greater Manchester. Some of these deaths could be prevented if the council, canal and river trust, the Bridgewater Canal Company Ltd and Peel Group put up barriers to protect people"