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A MULI-AGENCY response was put into action on Easter Sunday (Apr 10) to reports that there was a person in distress on the Cleddau Bridge
Tasked to this incident were officers from Dyfed Powys Police, Ambulance and the Fire Service.
Coastguard Rescue teams from Dale and St Govan’s also attended, and the Port of Milford Haven’s patrol vessel Water Ranger also stood by.
Angle Lifeboat crew were requested to launch at 2:47pm on Easter Sunday to support an ongoing police incident on the Cleddau Bridge.
The Angle lifeboat launched shortly after and proceeded up the haven towards the bridge, where they stood off around Hobbs Point should they be required.
The RNLI said that after around 90 minutes on scene, the incident was brought to a safe conclusion by the police, and all assets were stood down.
A witness watching from Neyland said: “I saw the incident it in its entirety.
“The police liaison officer was amazing. The responsibility they have. I saw the distressed person climb over the railings on several occasions. When the person eventually started walking towards the liaison officer, after well over an hour, four officers sprinted towards him and began speaking with him.
“I Don’t think they restrained him, but they were between him and the bridge. They’re so well prepared for this. It blew my mind how professional the police were.
The closures to the Cleddau Bridge due to persons in distress has become a regular occurrence in recent times, and this has already happened several times in the last twelve months.
“A significant proportion of people who take their own lives have asked for support for their mental health within the last 12 months,” commented Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at the charity Mind.
“But no one who is in touch with the mental health services or who is asking for help, should reach the point of taking their own life.
“If they are, then it means that our services are failing people when they need help them the most.”
Mental health services may be failing to provide assistance when individuals need it the most.
Speaking last year, former army paramedic and Neyland town councillor Steve Thomas shared Nash’s concerns and has urged Pembrokeshire County Council to establish a Suicide Prevention Project at Cleddau Bridge.
For many years, the bridge has been a location where people in crisis either threaten to take their own lives or do so tragically.
Thomas’ concerns arose when emergency services had to attend to a person who had once again jumped from the bridge, and he believes the problem will persist unless there is an intervention.
“Mental health services may be failing to provide assistance when individuals need it the most”, Cllr Thomas said.
MORE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS IN THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD ON FRIDAY
