A POLICE officer and three members of the public have been praised by Wiltshire Police for their life-saving actions during an incident in Swindon. 

Police Constable Will Saunders and three members of the public Jackie Gough, Caroline Symmons and Sue Jewell were all awarded a Chief Constable's Certificate of Excellence for their part in saving the life of a suicidal person. 
 
Late in the evening of January 21, whilst off duty, PC Saunders was driving between Royal Wootton Bassett and Hook when he spotted a woman in distress on the M4 bridge. 

He turned his car around and stopped beside the woman to see if he could help. 
  
The woman started to climb over the barrier. Reacting immediately, he ran over to hold on to the woman, who was then on the other side of the barrier.

PC Saunders removed his belt so that he could loop it around the woman to help pull her back over the barrier.  

This is when Jackie, Caroline and Sue arrived having seen what was happening while they were driving by. 

Together the group managed to bring the woman back over the barrier to safety, keeping her safe until officers arrived.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "Their actions involved risking their own safety to help someone in a crisis situation, and we have no doubt they directly averted a potential tragedy that evening.

"Thank you all for the selfless bravery you showed that night."

If you need help, contact Samaritans for free, at any time and from any phone on 116 123. Other support and ways to get in touch can be found on their website www.samaritans.org.