A reporter who went to the aid of a suicidal man has told how she feared he would jump from a railway bridge.

Chloe Mayer, a journalist at the Ilford Recorder, had been on her way to work when she spotted the man behaving suspiciously on a bridge near to Seven Kings railway station.

As she got closer she heard the man shouting into a mobile phone and threatening to jump before climbing onto a wall overlooking the electrified railway tracks – prompting her to call police.

Chloe said: “It was a horrible situation – watching this disturbed man think about killing himself and then struggle with the officers.

“He was much calmer earlier and while I was waiting for the police to arrive I’d considered talking to him myself – I was desperate for him not to jump on to the electrified tracks or dive in front of a train.

“But the emergency services operator had told me not to go over to him, so I followed her advice – and when I saw his reaction after the police arrived it was probably for the best.

“I’m just really relieved the police arrived so quickly and were able to get the help this man needs.”

Three officers restrained the man and he has now been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.