Hero given award after saving man on bridge
AN HEROIC student who stepped over the railings of a bridge to save a ‘distressed man in a dark place’ has told how he talked him round and even went with him to hospital.
James Grey was walking home from a friend’s house in the early hours when he saw a man ‘leap over’ the barrier on a bridge in Moss Side.
Without hesitating, the 30-yearold Manchester Metropolitan University student climbed over the barrier to join him and ‘convinced him that the world wasn’t as bad as he thought.’
He then managed to talk the man down from the bridge after ‘sharing some life experiences’ before travelling with him to hospital.
His efforts have now been recognised with a Citizen’s Commendation by Greater Manchester Police’s Chief Constable.
James said the man was in a ‘dark place’ and ‘it was just lucky that I was there as it was a random time of the morning.’
The computer games technology student said: “It was about 3am when I saw him go across the bridge. He looked injured and was clearly in distress and I just wondered – what is this man doing? I tried to get his attention, but initially he wasn’t really talking to me and was looking at the road and positioning himself to jump off.
“After a failed attempt at getting a response from him I decided to climb over the barrier and join him so that we could have a chat.
“The man was in a lot of distress so I sat with him and found out what had led him to be there. We both shared some life experiences and when the police arrived I asked them to stay away as this appeared to agitate him.
“I convinced him that the world wasn’t as bad as he thought and went to hospital with him.
“The man was in a dark place and I’m just glad I was there at the time. It was just lucky that I was there as it was a random time of the morning. Receiving the award is a real honour, however my actions were what I would hope anyone else would do.”
James has since been thanked by the man.
Chief Inspector Laura Marler, from the City of Manchester Division at GMP, said: “Without his actions I think this story could have had a very different ending, which is why I thought it was important for him to be presented with this award.”