Posted on the 8th January 2026 in PHTM News

OPERATOR'S HUNCH LED TO WARNING THE POLICE BEFORE WOMAN FELL OFF M66 BRIDGE

An operator has revealed how a gut instinct led him to alert authorities twice before a woman fell from a bridge over the M66 on January 3.

The incident, which brought southbound traffic to a standstill near Ramsbottom, occurred after a woman requested a taxi from Fairfield Hospital to a bridge. The dispatcher, who chose to remain anonymous, acted on a "sense" that the passenger was in danger, despite her seemingly cheerful demeanor during subsequent interactions.

The operator provided evidence showing he first contacted police at 3:55pm after his driver refused the initial request to be dropped on a motorway bridge.

Following a second call from the woman - who changed her destination to a nearby location - the operator alerted police again at 4:14pm. “The woman first called and had asked to be picked from Fairfield Hospital and be taken to a bridge,” the operator said. “The call goes through to the driver and he said he could not complete the job. I felt something was not right and then called the police.”

Despite the operator’s growing concern, the woman’s tone shifted during her second booking. “She sounded quite jovial to be honest. So, you can never tell,” he noted.

A second driver eventually dropped the woman near the bridge after she claimed she was meeting a friend. Shortly after, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received reports of a person on the wrong side of the bridge.

Reflecting on the event, the operator described his decision to call the police as a "hunch," urging the public to show compassion toward those struggling with mental health. “People can be judgmental, but you never know what is going on in a person’s head,” he said.

A spokesperson for GMP confirmed that officers were called to a "concern for welfare" at approximately 4:00 pm. The woman subsequently fell onto the carriageway, sustaining injuries that are described as non-life-threatening. She remains in hospital for treatment.


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