The night I stopped a woman jumping to her death
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
10th April 2008
By Emma Streatfield
A POLICE Community Support Officer is being hailed a lifesaver after convincing a woman not to jump from a motorway bridge. But the modest PCSO said that his actions were all in the line of duty.

PCSO Andrew Singfield, from Wootton Bassett police station and patrols Lyneham village too, said: "My job description is to protect the public and save life and limb - the safety of the public is paramount to the police and PCSOs are no different. It was just instinct. You just deal with it. You don't want her to jump so you convince her not to."

The PCSO was first on the scene at 9.49pm on Monday after being alerted by a member of the public. He was faced with a 28-year-old Swindon woman who was leaning out over lane one of the M4 from a bridge over the motorway at Hook.

He said: "She was straddling the fence of the overbridge and as I pulled up she got right over the fence and stood there."

He said the conditions were icy and dark and any false move could have led the woman to slip.

"I was told it was about 10 minutes but it just felt like a lifetime, She was quite calm. I was just trying to make a connection and talk to her and get eye contact. As I was talking to her she was moving away from me.

" As I moved nearer I was hoping she would edge away from me so if she'd jumped she'd go on the embankment She let me get nearer to her and I said It's a bit cold up here. Can I hold your arm?' I kept hold of her so if she did go I had hold of her."

When PC Jamie Ball and PC Catherine Lee arrived it was finally safe to try to get the woman back to the right side of the bridge. PC Ball was able to assist PCSO Singfield to pull the woman back over the safety barrier. The woman then reacted badly and had to be restrained. She is currently undergoing a medical assessment.

Wootton Bassett Sector Inspector Mark Levitt said: "This was an excellent piece of work by PCSO Singfield and his colleagues who had to contend with freezing temperatures in night-time conditions.

"PCSO Singfield acted bravely and professionally when faced with a very difficult situation. His actions may very well have saved this young woman's life and he will be nominated for suitable recognition."