Pc rescues Thames bridge jumper

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/surrey/7135437.stm

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A police constable who dived into the River Thames to save a man who jumped off a bridge has been commended as "extremely brave" by senior officers.

Pc Neil Pike was called to Bridge Road, Chertsey, to reports of a man threatening to attempt suicide.

He managed to reach him in the water and got them both to safety with the help of a buoyancy aid dropped from a police helicopter.

Ch Insp Dave Kelley paid tribute to the "professionalism" of Pc Pike.

The incident took place at about 1420 GMT on Saturday.

'Reacted instinctively'

Video footage shot from the police helicopter showed the man sitting on the edge of the bridge, lowering himself over and then falling.

He could then be seen afloat in the water for several minutes before Pc Pike appeared and got the buoyancy aid to him.

He said afterwards: "I am pleased that I was able to help to save a life."

The man involved was taken to hospital for treatment, while the officer suffered shock caused by the cold water in the Thames.

Ch Insp Kelley said: "Pc Pike was extremely brave to risk his own life in order to save another, and reacted instinctively to the scene as it unfolded in front of him.

"Without his fast actions... the man could have died."