Does Manchester have a serial killer? Suspicions raised after 61 canal deaths

A sign on Manchester’s Canal Street warns of the ‘significant risk’ of falling into the water, but have too many ‘accidents’ happened?

17:42 13 January 2015

A psychologist has warned that the spate of 61 deaths on Manchester’s Canal Street in just six years may not be due to accidents.

Professor Craig Jackson, head of psychology at Birmingham University, said that the number of casualties is big enough to consider the idea that a killer could be on the loose.

“It’s extremely unlikely that such an alarming number of bodies is the result of accidents and suicides,” he argues.

Jackson investigated some of the incidents including Chris Brahney’s case. The 22-year-old from Timperley, went missing from a Stone Roses concert in June 2012 and was found dead in the Manchester Ship Canal afterwards.

Workers in Canal Street suggest that many people who visit the area drink and take drugs making them prone to accidents.

Hospitality manager Ali Eskandari recalls two fatal incidents in 18 months. “Obviously it’s a worry that people are dying in the canal because we want to encourage a feeling of safety and security for people in the village,” he said.

Hair stylist Kurt Laing added: “A lot of people go cruising on the towpath between the two bridges. Whenever someone dies, it’ll be on Facebook that it’s happened again.”

“There should be more cameras down on the canal bank to make people feel safer,” he added. “There are lots of rumours about ‘The Pusher’.”