WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
A policeman has been hailed a hero after he saved a pensioner who jumped off a footbridge in Chongqing, China.
Officer Liu Yunhe stretched out his arms and ran to place himself underneath the man who suddenly let go of the bridge and fell from 10 metres (33ft).
The man was unhurt, but officer Liu sustained muscle injuries in the legs.
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Reports say the man had climbed over the railings and was threatening to jump. According to the MailOnline, he was telling people to 'stay away' as he stood on the tiny ledge.
Police were alerted to Yuping Bridge in the old town district of Yongchuan at 8.05am on 25 July. The officers tried to talk the man out of jumping while they set up a rescue cushion below.
But as people crowded along the street, a fireman began to run towards the man on the top of the bridge in an attempt to haul him to safety, predicting his next intentions.
The pensioner plunged from the bridge, but his fall was broken by officer Liu who managed to catch him.
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The brave man told Chongqing News: "It's my responsibility (to save people). I had to do it." What a LAD.
The 49-year-old policeman also realised the danger of injuring himself from catching a falling man.
He added: "The impact was so strong that I could be killed, but my body could act as a buffer to lessen the hit and save the man."
The man was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment to any potential injuries.
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The footage was posted onto social media and one witness commented to explain that the crowd cheered for the policeman after the dramatic save.
Another wrote: "Thank god the policeman is okay".
A third added: "It's very easy to get fractures if he didn't catch him right! Glad the policeman is fine."
The MailOnline reported that the man was taken to the police station but he refused to give his reasons for jumping off the bridge.
'U OK M8?' is an initiative from LADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which features a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.
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Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.
MIND: 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans: 116 123.
CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.
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Featured Image Credit: AsiaWire
Topics: Bridge, World News, News, Mental Health, China