Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Road bridge closed over fears for man
EMERGENCY services were called out to the Tay Road Bridge following reports of concerns for a man.
Police, lifeboats and an ambulance crew were dispatched in response to the incident at around midnight.
The bridge was closed in both directions for about an hour after the incident.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said that bridge control staff had alerted them over their fears for a man they had spotted on the bridge.
She said: “We received a call at 23.59 from bridge control over concern for a man on the crossing.
“Police, along with both Broughty Ferry lifeboats, Carnoustie coastguard and an ambulance crew attended.
“The man was handed over to paramedics just after 1am.”
A spokesman for HM Coastguard said both lifeboats from Broughty Ferry and the coastguard team from Carnoustie were alerted.
The man was taken to hospital by ambulance.
In January, it was revealed that Tay Road Bridge chiefs were exploring new ways to try to reduce the number of suicide attempts at the structure after a string of incidents.
Stewart Hunter, chairman of the road bridge board, revealed work is ongoing to investigate ways to stop people harming themselves or ending their lives by jumping from the crossing.
The move was revealed amid concerns for a man seen falling from the bridge into the Tay on New Year’s Day.
Mr Hunter said the board was looking at how other cities have addressed the issue. He said: “We are currently undertaking research looking at what methods are used elsewhere to stop this happening.
“We are aware other cities have adopted methods that have been successful and we are currently monitoring those.”
Mr Hunter said that in the meantime there are CCTV cameras at locations along the bridge which are monitored 24 hours a day.
If you feel suicidal, or just need someone to talk to, volunteers at the Samaritans are on hand to help 24 hours a day. Contact them by calling 116123, or by emailing jo@samaritans.org.