Driver saves man from suicide

LIFESAVER: Jonathan Hawkins stopped a man from a suicide attempt on a bridge over the M60 at Chadderton

A GOOD Samaritan’s quick-thinking saved a suicidal man from jumping off a motorway bridge in Chadderton.

Driver Jonathan Hawkins (25) sprang into action after seeing a man carrying a knife staggering and bleeding profusely from a deep wound to his arm.

Recalling Sunday night’s incident, Jonathan said: “A friend and I were driving back from the pictures when we noticed the man was bleeding.

“We stopped in the middle of the road and got out, because there was a puddle of blood and I thought this guy needed help.

“I then realised he had a knife, so I tried to calm him down and build up his trust.

“I asked him to get rid of the knife, so he would not do any more harm to himself or anyone else.”

The man, believed to be 29 and suffering from mental health problems, dropped the weapon thanks to Jonathan’s negotiating skills.

Ten minutes later, police and paramedics arrived at the scene, close to the Boat and Horses hotel alongside the motorway. The man was taken to hospital.

Jonathan said: “The whole incident felt like ages, but I just felt like he needed help. It was a natural instinct.

“My first reaction was that he had come out of a pub, drunk or got into a fight, but even then, I felt he would deserve help.

“It was not until after what happened that I thought about the knife or what he could have done with it. I just thought he needed help.

“When officers arrived I heard him shout to them ‘I would have jumped’.

“It was scary to think he would have done it.

“I would like to think people would come to the aid of someone else in a similar situation.”