Man rescued from Tamar Bridge

Emergency services have rescued a man who climbed the Tamar Bridge last night.

The bridge was closed fo over an hour while rescue services first negotiated with the man and then managed a successful rescue.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue report that they were called at approximately 21:45 last night by the Police to assist them.

A spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews from Crownhill and Saltash were mobilised to standby and assist as well as the Specialist Rescue Team from Camels Head Fire Station and the High Platform Ladder from Crownhill Fire Station, plus the Fire Boat from Plymstock.

"A specialist rescue Officer from DSFRS as well as an operational Officer of DSFRS also attended.

"Upon arrival, crews set up a safety zone and liaised with on site police officers who were negotiating with the male. The male had managed to get himself quite high up into the rigging of the Tamar bridge.

"After negotiations a decision was made to dispatch 2 firefighters from our specialist rescue team up the rigging to bring the male down.

"Wearing specialist harnesses and using associated specialist equipment and supported by fire service personnel on the ground, the 2 firefighters ascended the metal rigging to a height of around 10 metres from bridge level were they made contact with the male and were able to secure him into a rescue harness.

"Thereafter and over a period of around 20 minutes, the male was carefully lowered using rescue lines. Once successfully lowered onto the ground, the male was detached from the harness and rescue lines and handed over to onsite police and paramedics."