The Chronicle

HERO AT 100FT

Tyne Bridge rescuer relives drama

- By Tom Eden Reporter tom.eden@trinitymir­ror.com

TYNE Bridge hero Andrew Fairlamb has revealed how he helped save a stricken man from plunging 100ft from the Tyne Bridge to the swirling river below.

The 23-year-old, said: “I grabbed an arm and clung on for dear life.”

TYNE Bridge rescue hero Andrew Fairlamb told how he had to use “every last ounce of strength” to cling on and prevent a stricken man plunging 100ft to his death.

Andrew was one of three passers-by who saved the troubled man who was precarious­ly clinging on to the bridge above the water below.

He was driving home to Seaton Delaval after finishing a six-hour shift working on the climbing wall at Gateshead Leisure Centre on Sunday night when he spotted a woman franticall­y gesturing for help.

Andrew ran over to where the man was, and, along with two other women, held on to him until more help arrived.

He said: “I was coming home from work, driving across the Tyne Bridge when I was flagged down by a lady.

“I stopped and saw these two women were hanging on to this bloke on the edge of the bridge.

“I grabbed an arm and clung on for dear life, knowing I couldn’t let go.

“That keeps you going because, as bad as it sounds, you don’t want to hear him hit the water below.”

Within minutes, dozens of emergency service personnel arrived and managed to secure the man using cables, ropes and harnesses.

But 23-year-old climbing attendant Andrew said it had felt like an eternity.

“It must have only been five minutes, but it felt like forever,” he said.

“I was having to summon every ounce of strength.

“All of us had hold of a part of his body and as the police got there they fastened a cable around his belt to take his weight.

“When the fire brigade arrived I was relieved of my duty and I got out of the way. My arms were gone.”

The Tyne Bridge was blocked off to traffic during the rescue and Northumbri­a Police publicly thanked the members of public who helped save the man.

A spokeswoma­n for the force said: “Police were called at 8.45pm on Sunday, October 1, following concern for a man seen on the wrong side of the railing on the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle.

“Emergency services attended and members of the public assisted and the man was brought to safety.”

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoma­n added: “TWFRS firefighte­rs from Gateshead secured the individual with a safety harness and then our specialist rope rescue team brought him to safety.”

The man was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and has since been released.

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 ??  ?? Andrew Fairlamb, above, helped saved the man on the bridge
Andrew Fairlamb, above, helped saved the man on the bridge

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