Fight to save man after Dean Bridge suicide bid

Police stopped traffic crossing the Dean Bridge as the drama unfolded. Picture: Greg Macvean

The bridge was closed to traffic and pedestrians for more than two hours yesterday afternoon as ambulance crews battled to save the life of the 46-year-old, who had fallen more than 100 feet into the river below.

The man has since been transferred to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with “serious injuries”.

Police said they were called out to the West End bridge at around 1.50pm following concerned reports about the welfare of the man.

Police are dealing with an incident on Dean Bridge.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene alongside several police cars and a police van to form a road block in both directions.

Speaking at the bridge, one witness said: “It’s really sad – someone jumped off the bridge.

“I was just down in the gardens underneath and you can see the ambulance crews down there in operation. It’s happened here before.”

The bridge was reopened to the public just before 4pm, but a path at the foot of Bell’s Brae remained cordoned off throughout the afternoon. City centre councillor Joanna Mowat said the event was “tragic” but admitted such incidents were difficult to prevent.

She said: “It’s horrible, because there is such a trail of human tragedy behind it.

“It’s a very tragic situation when someone chooses to try to take their own life.

“It’s very difficult to know what you would do to prevent it.

“I suppose all you can ask is whether emergency services acted appropriately by closing off the bridge for that length of time. But equally, they have to do what they have to do.”

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that officers were called to the Dean Bridge in the centre of Edinburgh at around 1.50pm yesterday following reports of concern for a 46-year-old man.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service was also in attendance and the man has been transferred to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.”