Honour for saving M6 jump woman

Mark Boddington was on a study trip when he saved the woman's life

A Kent student is to receive an award for saving the life of a woman who was trying to jump from a motorway bridge.

Mark Boddington was studying at Hadlow College, near Tonbridge, and was on a study trip in Cumbria in July 2008.

He was in a minibus with other students crossing a bridge over the M6 when a woman began climbing over the barrier.

The 43-year-old talked her out of leaping onto the motorway near Kendal and has now been told he is to be honoured by Cumbria Police.

Mr Boddington, who is studying for a degree in landscape management, said he approached the woman and asked her to climb back over the barrier.

He said: "She looked at me and was a bit hesitant and then responded.

"She did climb back over the barrier and I helped her over and then I just held her until the police came."

His tutor Richard Tilley said: "Mark acted purely by instinct, his only concern was to save the woman's life."

Mr Boddington, who lives in Aylesford, is due to receive his award in March 2010.