A man has been talked down after threatening to throw himself off Rochester Bridge today.

Local coastguards fought for an hour to save his life after the unnamed 45-year-old was spotted hanging by his hands from the bridge.

Two coastguards - Richard Montgomery and Rod Watson - persuaded him to return to safety.

They cared for him until the police arrived.

The Medway coastguards’ deputy station officer, Richard Rodgers, said: "They were able to get him out of a really serious position, and eventually managed to sit him down in our truck and talk."

Mr Rodgers said it was unlikely the man would have survived if he jumped.

The currents around the road and rail bridges are notorious for keeping swimmers underwater.

• More details in Monday’s Medway Messenger.