A MAN was dramatically hauled to safety by police after being spotted in a distressed state on the Orwell Bridge.

A MAN was dramatically hauled to safety by police after being spotted in a distressed state on the Orwell Bridge.

Officers became concerned when a man walked past their parked patrol car near the landmark bridge and made his way along the footpath on the Felixstowe-bound carriageway of the road.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “After five minutes they could see the man looking over the edge and he was in a slightly distressed state.

“The officers put a rolling road block on the road and went up to speak to the man.

“He was a bit uncooperative and was arrested for his own safety.”

“The man was taken to St Clements Hospital in Ipswich where he was admitted.”

One onlooker, who was travelling in the opposite direction on the bridge's westbound carriageway said: “There seemed to be a car parked in the middle of the Felixstowe carriageway.

“I saw two policemen on the path near the bridge wrestling a man to the ground.”

The Orwell Bridge has been the setting for a number of suicides over the years.

Less than two weeks ago police talked a man down from the structure after he threatened to jump.

Did you witness the incident? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk