A man and a woman who came to the help of a distressed man stood on the wrong side of the railings on a motorway bridge in Sheffield have been thanked by the police for their efforts

Yasmin Ball and Kevin Hartley encountered the man stood on the wrong side of the railings on a bridge over a stretch of busy motorway earlier this year. As the first people on the scene, Yasmin and Kevin built a rapport with the man and after speaking to him a calm and caring manner, managed to bring him to the safe side of the railings.

Yasmin and Kevin both received a district commander’s commendation from Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley last month for their quick thinking, care and compassion shown during the incident.

Chief Superintendent Hemsley said: “I cannot thank Yasmin and Kevin enough for their quick thinking and response. They saw a man who was clearly in great distress and instinctively intervened and helped him to safety.

“Our officers do a really difficult job and unfortunately we can’t be everywhere at once, and therefore sometimes, such as on this occasion, the quick-thinking actions of the general public can be crucial in ensuring the safety of others.

“It’s stories like these that make me proud to serve communities here in Sheffield. It was my absolute pleasure to meet Yasmin and Kevin, thank them in person and present them with a commendation.”