A Fife man has spoken of the moment he saved a distressed woman as she attempted to take her own life.
Poul Thomassen, 22, said he felt like he was in a film as he held on to the woman as she dangled from the Tay Road Bridge.
Mr Thomassen, who recently moved to Ladybank from Kirkcaldy, spoke to The Courier after being commended for his actions by the Royal Humane Society.
The labourer for a timber firm said a typical drive home from Dundee in December 2012 turned into an emotional rollercoaster within a matter of seconds.
He and his partner had been driving southbound on the bridge late on December 8, heading home to Fife after attending a gig in Dundee.
“We were driving across the bridge and up ahead I saw what I thought was a plastic bag blowing across the road,” he said.
“I thought nothing of it at first but then I realised that it was too big to be a plastic bag and that it was actually a woman running towards the side of the bridge.”
Stopping his car, Poul ran across to help the woman, who had already climbed on to the railings and was threatening to jump into the water below.
“I just told her to hold on,” he continued. “I walked up to her and told her that I wasn’t going to harm her.”
As he approached, the woman, wearing only pyjamas, let go of the railing, prompting Poul to reach out and grab a hold of whatever he could.
“I think it might have been her hoodie I caught at first,” he said. “I had my arms around her and said that I wouldn’t let go.
“It was all happening really fast. I just couldn’t take it all in at the time. I was just holding on to her.
“The bridge patrol saw it all happening and the police came about five minutes later.”
Police officers secured the woman and pulled her back over the railing.
Exhausted by the situation, Poul crossed the carriageway and tried to make sense of what had just happened.
“I just had my head in my hands and was coming to terms with everything,” he said. “I felt like I was in a film or something. After that I just got into my car and drove away.
“Later on I got a phone call from the police saying that the woman had been thankful, as well as her partner. That was nice to hear.”
Earlier this week Mr Thomassen was honoured by the Royal Humane Society, receiving a Testimonial on Parchment an award granted to those who have put themselves in danger to save the lives of others.
Although he could not attend the ceremony in Dundee due to work commitments, Mr Thomassen said that while he did not expect recognition for his actions, it was nice to be honoured.
“I was quite chuffed,” he added. “I just wish I could have been there to receive it.”