A MEDIC has been commended for helping to pull a man to safety after he threatened to jump from a bridge.

Samantha Wilyman, a paramedic area support officer, attended the incident in Hall Street, Dudley, on March 5.

Along with a police officer, she made her way onto the bridge to speak to the patient, who had self-discharged from a mental health hospital.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "He was polite and happy to speak to them. He was, however, the wrong side of the barrier. He allowed Sam and the WPC to attach a police CAS strap around him while they talked, in order to secure him to the railings."

But then, without warning, the man slid out of the strap in an attempt to jump.

Samantha and the police officer were able to hold onto him until further assistance arrived and after a"very fraught and anxious struggle", they managed to pull the man to safety.

The spokesman continued: "The actions carried out were simply above and beyond and if not carried out would have without doubt resulted in very serious injuries, if not death of the patient."

Samantha received a Chief Officer’s Commendation at the trust’s annual Long Service and Excellence Awards ceremony, held at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierely Hill on March 30.