Suicide threat ends in river drama

2:28pm Friday 26th September 2008

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EMERGENCY services rushed to Chippenham yesterday afternoon after a man threatened to kill himself and then jumped into the river off the town centre bridge.

Eyewitnesses saw the man in his 30s shouting and crying on the bridge before he jumped off into the water sparking a rescue operation.

It is thought a passing teenager jumped in after the man and saved his life.

Julie Lewkolwicz, from Chippenham, who was fishing on the river at the time of the incident, said: "It was absolutely horrible. He jumped in and then started screaming 'help me, help me', and was swimming around aimlessly like he was very drunk.

"We just didn't know what to do when this young man jumped in and managed to pull him to safety. But the strangest thing was when the man was pulled out of the river he wanted to jump back in again.

"This young man saved his life. No one else was doing anything, I think we were all so shocked. And as we fish quite a lot on the river we know just how deep and dangerous it can be.

"But the teenager didn't stay to be thanked or anything. he just walked off into town, dripping wet."

Another eyewitness said: "The man had been sitting on the bridge all day crying and generally causing a nuisance but nobody thought this would happen.

"At around 4pm he started screaming he was going to kill himself and a crowd gathered on the bridge before he just disappeared from view. Six police cars came screeching into the town centre, then a water rescue team and then a fire engine.

"All I saw was the guy being dragged into a police car and taken away. It was horrible, he was dripping wet."

The mystery hero is thought to be around 18 years old and have dark hair.

Do you know the rescuer? If you do contact our news team on 01225 773646.