MYSTERY Good Samaritans who rescued a Horwich man from a stream have told how they battled to save his life.

Mr Gordon Pearcy, of Brownlow Road, toppled over a wall and into the stream off Cooper Street late on Sunday night, badly gashing his head.

The BEN has managed to trace the mystery rescuers, 17-year-old business studies student Daryl Baggaley and 23-year-old David Elliott who have spoken for the first time about the late night drama.

Luckily for Mr Pearcy, Daryl had been walking ahead of him taking a short cut home after visiting a friend and turned round in time to see the 60-year-old man disappear.

"It was like something out of a film. His legs just flipped over the wall," said Daryl, of Brownlow Road.

Daryl said he initially tried to lean over and pull Mr Pearcy out, but the older man was semi-conscious and could not reach his hand.

So Daryl jumped four feet down into the freezing, stagnant water and managed to hold the foundry worker's body clear of the stream.

"It was pretty cold and smelly," said Daryl, who ruined his favourite trainers in the rescue.

Daryl was relieved when a few minutes later 23-year-old David Elliott walked past with his dog, Obie.

"I was pretty happy that he had a torch with him. It was dark," said Daryl.

David, of Grace Street, jumped down into the stream, which was shin deep in water, to help haul Mr Pearcy out. "We each put an arm round him and managed to walk him out," said David. After treatment at the Royal Bolton Hospital for cuts Mr Pearcy was allowed home and is now eager to meet his rescuers to thank them.