A youngster fell 30ft while at the historic Rivington Terraced Gardens.
The seven year old was reported to have tumbled some 30 feet down steep ground below the Seven Arches Bridge landmark, eventually coming to rest on a stone path.
Emergency services including Bolton Mountain Rescue were scrambled to the scene.
The air ambulance was also called.
The accident happened at 2pm yesterday.
The boy was carried up to the bridge and transferred to paramedics who took him to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
A spokesperson from Bolton Mountain Rescue Team said: “At 14:04 the team was contacted by North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust who were requesting our attendance to help extricate a casualty at Rivington Terraced Gardens.
“An NWAS crew and North West Air Ambulance Charity aircraft were already in attendance.
“A seven-year-old boy was reported to have tumbled some 30 feet down steep ground below the Seven Arches Bridge landmark, eventually coming to rest on a stone path.
“Working with the NWAS and NWAA crews on scene the young man was carried up to the bridge and transferred to an NWAS ambulance for transfer by road to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
“Our thanks go to numerous members of staff from United Utilities for their assistance during this incident.”
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