PRIDE OF SWINDON: Swindon teenager's calm bravery saved suicidal man's life

Buster Brasier-Dinning rode his bike along the bridge last May and stopped when he saw a man leaning over the edge ready to take his own life.

The St Joseph's Catholic College student calmly talked to the vulnerable man and held out his hand until he grabbed it and safely sat down out of harm's way.

The man sobbed, saying he had nothing left to live for and nobody cared, but Buster dialled 999 and chatted to him for 25 minutes.

Two workmen stopped to help after assuming the teenager had been knocked off his bike and the police arrived shortly afterwards.

Once the suicidal adult was in safe hands, Buster called his dad Lionel and broke down in tears.

Buster Brasier-Dinning (right) with dad Lionel

Two weeks later, he learned from police that the man was in hospital and receiving support, which reassured the brave young man.

He told the Adver: "I didn't realise what was going on at first and wondered how I would handle the situation, but I kept calm because I didn't want to scare the man.

"It was frustrating to see people watch what was happening and drive past without helping him.

"It was a weird circumstance really, because I just happened to be out on my bike - what if I'd passed by five minutes later? In a way, it was a blessing in disguise for him, like I was meant to be there.

"When the police arrived, I could actually relax and process what happened."

Dad Lionel added: "He was very hyper while trying to tell me what had happened. It wasn't far from our house and when I picked him up, he crumbled.

"Things could have been very different. The police were very impressed with how he kept calm and managed to hold it together, and we are all very proud of how he dealt with this serious situation.

"He had a lot of questions afterwards about what happened to the man and what if he had been too late, so we asked the inspector for an update on the man's condition.

"The police said very few people can say they saved a man's life - but Buster is one of them."

Buster's proud mum teared up and hugged him when he was one of the people who received a Pride of Swindon award to loud applause on Thursday.

He added: "It was very exciting, I'm very happy, and it was nice to hear everyone else's stories about what they do in the community."