Bridge drama in Cheltenham: armed man threatens to jump

[whole diary]

[John R]

Also something up at Cheltenham with all lines blocked? Currently at Gloucester with no idea as to when we'll be on the move. Not a good day in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) land.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From thisisgloucestershire:

Dramatic scenes were unfolding in Cheltenham this afternoon after an armed man was seen dangling from a railway bridge threatening to jump off.

Bosses at Network Rail issued a warning saying the man was standing on top of Cloddymore foot bridge, in Up Hatherley, beckoning trains towards him so he could throw himself onto the tracks.

Police said they had been called to the scene after the man was spotted by a train driver.  However, they are refusing to approach the man as they believe he may be carrying a weapon.  A trained police negotiator is now at the scene, off Draycot Road.

A spokesman for the force said: "The incident was reported at around 3.15pm by a train driver who was concerned for the welfare of a man on a bridge in Cheltenham. Trains were called to a halt for the safety of the man and commuters and a negotiator was sent to the scene."

The incident remains ongoing. More details will follow.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from thisisgloucestershire:

Man talked down safely after railway bridge standoff

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Cheltenham this afternoon after a man was seen dangling from a railway bridge threatening to jump off.

Bosses at Network Rail issued a warning at 3.15pm saying the man was standing on top of Cloddymore foot bridge, in Up Hatherley, beckoning trains towards him so he could throw himself onto the tracks.

Police were called to the scene after the man was spotted by a train driver.  Initially they refused to approach the man as they believed he may be carrying a weapon. However, this information later proved to be incorrect.

A trained police negotiator arrived at the scene, off Draycot Road, and a tense standoff ensued.  After over an hour of talks, he persuaded the man to come down safely.

The man, a 47-year-old who lives in the town, was detained under the mental health act. He was taken to hospital for assessments after the incident.

Trains were up and running again shortly after 4.30pm. Some 22 services were delayed or cancelled as a result of the scare.