A POLICE officer who talked a teenager out of throwing himself off a bridge is to receive a national life-saving award.

At around 11pm on February 11 this year, the teenager’s mother received a chilling phone call from her son saying he was standing on the side of a bridge in Darlington as he wanted to kill himself, and he had called to say goodbye.

She quickly raised the alarm and Sergeant Kevin Salter, from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, who was on patrol in a traffic car, began checking local bridges.

He quickly found the 18-year-old, who had only left home a short time before the call, standing on the wrong side of the safety barrier of a bridge on Haughton Road, over the River Skerne.

Sgt Salter slowly approached him and persuaded him not to jump, before taking his arm and helping him back over the barrier to safety.

Following a recommendation by his colleagues at Durham Police, the officer is to receive a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation for his courageous actions.

Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the society said: “Put simply Sgt Salter was the right person in the right place at the right time.

“He was faced with a very difficult situation but thankfully he managed to talk the youth out of jumping from the bridge. He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”

He added: “The youth was on a small ledge on the wrong side of the safety barrier. He was not holding on to anything and only his balance was preventing him from falling.

“Situations like this are fraught with danger but Sgt Salter handled it like a professional negotiator.”

Sgt Salter will receive his award at a ceremony soon.

Chief Inspector Alison Jackson, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Through his calm and compassionate approach, Sgt Salter was able to bring the situation to a safe conclusion for all concerned.

“I am delighted that he has been commended for his actions that day.”

The Royal Humane Society is a charity and is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.