Negotiations with suicidal man on Trowbridge car park end with a big hug

A man’s been detained under the Mental Health Act after threatening to jump from the top of a multi-storey car park in Trowbridge this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to St Stephen’s Car Park at around 2.30pm today.

Nearby roads were closed by police officers as specialist negotiators arrived at the scene alongside firefighters from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

At the height of the incident, approximately nine police vehicles, two ambulances and three fire vehicles were parked at the scene.

The man received a hug when he walked away from the edge of the car park, before being detained under the Mental Health Act so he can receive specialist support.

A witness told Wiltshire 999s: “We could see a man in the edge of the 5th or 6th floor, with a group of officers close to him, just talking. Eventually, someone gave him and hug and what looked like some chatting, they got him down.”