Joel’s calm-talk saves leap-threat woman

HERO . . . Joel Rhoden and his partner Rachel Taylor who rescued a suicidal woman from the M60 bridge in Hollinwood

A mother has praised her Good Samaritan son after he stopped a woman from throwing herself off a bridge over the M60.

Joel Rhoden (20) spotted the woman near the roundabout on Hollins Road around 9 last night as he drove home with his pregnant partner Rachel Taylor (21) and their children.

The woman in her 30s had both legs over the parapet and was looking down when Joel’s calm words persuaded her to step back.

And as soon as she put one leg back on to the bridge he seized his chance and bundled her to safety.

His mother Colleen Rhoden from Limeside said today: “I am so proud of him. If I can nominate him for a bravery award I will.”

Joel, a Salford University media production student, and Rachel were driving to Moston from Colleen’s when they saw the woman and pulled up.

Six months’ pregnant Rachel shouted to her to stop, but she waved her away.

As Rachel phoned her mother and the police, she was also calming down her daughter Elisha (5) and caring for their baby, eight-month-old Isiah.

Joel said: “I was about a metre away from the woman and first she had one leg over the railings, then she put both over and she wasn’t holding on with her hands. She was looking down.

“I’ve been trying to remember what I said. Whatever I said, I calmed her down. I asked her why she was there and she said she had had enough of life.

“I told her life’s already too short, and when she put one leg back over the parapet, I took my chance and grabbed her and held her down.”

Another motorist had stopped by this time, and Joel helped her into his car, and followed the driver as he took the woman home to Lambeth Street, Failsworth.

Joel, who lives in Moston, added: “I’ve no idea who she was and she never gave me her name. She just told me she wanted to go home. It was all a bit of a blur.

“When we stopped, other people were driving by, we were the only ones who stopped until she was safe.”

Police said the incident was picked up on CCTV cameras and police saw the woman taken to safety and taken away by car, but took no further action.