Abseil hero saves bridge girl

The Tyne Bridge is popular for fundraising abseils

An abseiling instructor has saved a young woman who climbed over bridge railings 90 feet above the River Tyne.

Andrew Vince, 34, was involved in a charity abseil from the Tyne Bridge at the time.

As dozens of fundraisers abseiled off Gateshead side of the bridge, police officers were trying to get the distresed woman back to safety.

Mr Vince was alerted to the incident by passing motorists and he ran the full length of the bridge to help.

The father-of-one, a former Royal Fusilier, said he just reacted instinctively.

I was in the right place at the right time with the right equipment and I didn't really think about it Andrew Vince

He said: "Cars were passing and tooting their horns and shouting that someone was trying to jump off the bridge.

"I thought they were taking the mickey as literally dozens of people were jumping off as part of the charity fundraiser; but they were pointing to the far end.

"It looked at first like someone was being restrained or arrested, but as I got closer I could see the police were almost on their bellies holding on to this lass through the railings.

"With the gear I had on I clipped myself on to the bridge, went over and scooped her back to the safe side."

Mr Vince, who lives in Holywell Village, near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said he learned to abseil while serving in the Army and was taught rescue techniques as part of his instructor course.

'Very brave'

He added: "I was in the right place at the right time with the right equipment and I didn't really think about it.

"I just put my training into action."

Lindsay Kay, of Cancer Research, which organised Sunday's charity event, said: "I thought he was very brave in the way he dealt with what was a very difficult situation."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "Officers attended the Tyne Bridge at 1230 GMT on Sunday and found a 19-year-old girl on the parapet.

"She was rescued by passers-by and taken to Newcastle General Hospital."