The officers who went above the call of duty

IT was a chilly March night, just after midnight, when Det Con Leigh Valentine became a lifesaver.

He was with Southend PC Nina Bourne and Laindon road policing unit’s PC Mark Hewitt when they spotted a man on a bridge over the A1089 near Palmers College in Tilbury.

At the time, they were all working in Thurrock’s neighbourhood policing team when they spotted the man, in his forties or fifties, about to take his own life.

Leigh said: “At first I thought it was a kid mucking about, but then I thought it was someone attempting to jump.

“I panicked and I knew whatever it was, we needed to get there.”

The officers rushed to the bridge on Wood View and gently made their way to the man.

Traffic on the 70mph road below was stopped as a man parked his car in the road to break the potentially fatal 30ft fall, while cars were also blocked on Wood View.

Leigh, who now works for the Online Investigation Team , said: “We got to 50 to 100 yards away and Mark was 15 yards away, so we didn’t overwhelm him.

“Mark was asking him to come back over the barrier and talk about whatever problems he was having.

“At which point without warning he jumped.”

Mark and a member of the public managed to grab hold of the man’s arms as he dangled over the 30ft drop.

Leigh and Nina sprinted over and helped to take hold of his arms.

But the man wriggled one arm free and held it by his side, leaving all four rescuers holding his 14 stone frame with just one arm.

Leigh said: “He was looking up at us saying, ‘let me go, let me go’. He swayed his body out trying to pull free.

“I remember looking into his eyes. I panicked and thought if he goes, I have looked into his eyes. I was pleading with him to give us his other arm to get him up and get him help. He wasn’t interested.

“I was just saying give us your arm we can get you help and can sort it out and what about your family and everyone else who cares about you?”

Begging with the man for what seemed like an eternity, the man tried to loosen his fingers with his other arm, giving police the opportunity to grab his second arm and drag him over the barriers.

By this point other police officers were on scene to restrain him and calm him down while the three officers and the member of the public caught their breath.

Leigh said: “We were sat on the kerb exhausted from the adrenalin going around. Someone told me I looked white as a sheet. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t breathe. Nina and Mark were the same.”

But it wasn’t long before Leigh, Nina and Mark were called on to other jobs to continue their shifts as if nothing had happened.

Lifesaver – PC Nina Bourne also helped to save the man who jumped off the bridge and also received a commendation

Leigh and Nina, who was a voluntary special constable at the time, went to respond to a burglary before being able to see the man they had just saved.

Leigh said: “It shows when something happens you can’t let it affect you for the rest of your work. I went to the hospital after our shift to see the guy.

“He shook my hand and said thank you and sorry. In the end he appreciated it. What was going through his mind at that time I don’t know but I told him he was in the best place to get something sorted.

“His fiancee at the time turned up and I know she works in a local supermarket.

“I know who she is and I don’t know if they are still together, but she looks at my oddly when I see her, as if she knows me. I don’t say anything to her.”

The incident happened in March 2011, but the three police officers have now been awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation for their bravery, quick thinking and professionalism by Essex Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh.

Leigh added: “I put it to the back of my head and forget about it sometimes, but it’s nice to have the recognition.

“We were just doing a job and it’s something I am sure the majority of people would do if they see a man in the same situation.

I am not doing anything anyone else would not do.”