A WOMAN says she wants to thank a good samaritan who saved her life by preventing her from jumping into the River Ouse in York.

Emma, 27, from Newcastle Upon Tyne, contacted The Press to ask for its help in tracing the life-saver, who stepped in and grabbed her when she was about to jump from a bridge.

She said she had recently spent four days in York after suffering a massive decline in her mental health and running away from her home in the north east.

She said she received inpatient treatment at York Hospital for a paracetamol overdose on August 9 but then ran away from the hospital.

Then, on Wednesday August 10, at about 10pm, she attempted to end her life by jumping into the Ouse from one of the bridges, Lendal Bridge.

“I ended up on the wrong side of the railings on Lendal Bridge and I was just about to jump when a member of the public forcefully grabbed me back over the railings and held me down and talked to me until the police arrived,” she said.

“He held me down for about ten minutes.”

“I was later sectioned and transported back to Newcastle Upon Tyne where I received a period of hospital treatment.

“I am feeling better in myself now, but I didn’t get a chance to thank the member of the public who grabbed me back over the railings.

“If it had not been for him, I would have most definitely ended up in the river and I dread to think what the outcome would have been.

“I was wondering if there is any way I can identify this man who saved me?”

She asked the life-saver to contact The Press, so the newspaper could forward his details on to her so she could thank him.

Emma’s rescuer, or anyone with any information about him, is asked to phone Mike Laycock on 01904 567132 or email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk.