A ROADS worker has been hailed after saving the life of a man who was attempting suicide.

Glasgow City Council employee George Duff was on shift with a colleague when he was approached by a member of the public concerned about a man nearby.

George, a Roads Operations team supervisor, did not hesitate and went to help the man, who was on the wrong side of a bridge barrier.

Using the mental health first aid skills he had learned just weeks earlier during a SafeTALK training session, George started to speak to the man and spent nearly half an hour building a connection and trying to encourage him to climb back over the railings.

The man had agreed to do so when the police turned up and he panicked.

Rather than hand over to the police, George explained that he had managed to establish a rapport with the man and asked that he be able to continue talking to him and to give them some space.

After a little time, George got the man to climb back over to safety and took him for a cup of tea before he was taken to hospital.

Hero George has now been named First Aid Hero of the Year at the prestigious St Andrew’s First Aid Scottish First Aid Awards ceremony

Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “George’s actions undoubtedly resulted in him saving a life that day and he should feel very proud of what he did.

“Mental ill health affects many people and being able to recognise the signs and intervene can go a long way in making a real difference, often a difference between life and death. He is a truly deserving winner and we are delighted to be able to present him with this award.”

More than 400 people attended the awards.