Firefighter in bridge leap drama

Lorraine Tinney • Published 19 Mar 2010 14:00

A HERO firefighter saved a man's life after pulling him to safety on the Erskine Bridge.

Scott Macrae, 27, sprang into action when he saw the man preparing to jump, as he drove over the bridge.

The Port Glasgow fireman, who was off duty at the time, jumped out his car and with another driver, grabbed the man.

He said: "I was driving to Oban and I saw the man standing at the other side. I got out the car and ran across to him. He was adamant he was going over the bridge."

The man then took a fit and Scott managed to place him in the recovery position before police and a paramedic doctor arrived, during the incident on Wednesday morning.

Scott said: "He had to be man-handled, then he took an epileptic fit.

"I put him in the recovery position. I know you're not meant to try to bring people out of it.

"He was quite emphatic about the fact he was going to jump. Then, after I grabbed him, he started to take an epileptic fit.

"His body was shaking and his eyes rolling, but I managed to get him comfortable until a paramedic arrived."

The firefighter has only been in the service for two years and had never experienced a life or death

situation. He said: "I've never had to deal with anything like that.

"I would always help someone in distress automatically. I thought more than two people would have stopped to help the man."

Scott, who still sounded shocked when he spoke to the Tele, said: "I'm glad the outcome was a positive one.

"My heart went out to him.What situation would push him so far to do

something like that?"

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 19 Mar 10

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