Published: Friday, 9th May, 2008 2:00pm

Hero officer stops M4 suicide bid

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EXTRA TIME: Two youngsters kick a football on the empty stretch of motorway, blissfully unaware of the drama ahead.

A BRAVE police sergeant talked a suicidal man out of jumping off a motorway bridge after an intense hour of crucial negotiations on Monday.

Hundreds of motorist were trapped on the M4 after police closed a stretch of the motorway between junctions five and six as A/Sgt Tristan Newsome pleaded with the 34-year-old.

The Slough man was perched on top of a caged footbridge at Ditton Road, Langley, between the junctions when he was spotted by concerned motorists at around 1pm.

Windsor's Acting Sergeant Tristan Newsome said: "When I got within a few feet of him it was obvious he was intent on jumping and he ignored me for some time. I could see he was trying to work himself up to jump.

"He had left a suicide note on the bridge and I told him I was going to read it. In it he was apologising to his children so I used that piece of information to get him to focus on positive things."

"It is a very scary experience and you feel a huge amount of responsibility. What you say or do can determine whether or not he lives or dies."

The 41-year-old has dealt with five other similar incidents over his 10-year career, successfully managing to talk down four of the five.

A/Sgt Newsome said: "You don't think about the previous incidents and focus on the situation at hand.

"I knew a trained negotiator was on the way but time was of the essence. It's not easy and I was trying to be positive."

"It was very intense and I was pleading with him. A few times he actually stood up and looked down at the spot he would land if he jumped. He was crying his eyes out and I really thought he was going to do it.

"The motorway was closed and it was very eerie and quiet just the two of us up there.

"I was very aware of the hundreds of people trapped on the motorway in the heat, but saving his life was my priority."

A/Sgt Newsome spent an hour and 15 minutes talking to the man through the cage grill before he agreed to come down. He said: "It felt like a lot longer then it was and it was a huge relief when he finally came down and we met properly for the first time because we had built up a bond.

"It was emotional and very nice when he shook my hand. I knew he was grateful."

The motorway was re-opened at 2.30pm and the man, who was not injured, voluntarily attended hospital where he will be seeking psychiatric help.