A police officer scaled scaffolding to rescue a man who was threatening to kill himself.
Officers were called to a house under construction in Rectory Road, Stisted, near Braintree, soon after 2am yesterday.
They found a 36-year-old man perched on scaffolding 20ft above the ground with a rope around his neck.
Police specialists and negotiators were called in and a tense stand-off ensued for more than six hours.
Shortly before 9am, a police officer made his way on to the scaffolding platform without the distressed man noticing.
The officer edged around the platform and grabbed the man, preventing him from jumping.
An Essex Police spokesman said the man was thought to have become distressed after meeting his estranged wife in Braintree on Saturday evening.
Published Monday July 26, 2004
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