A POLICE officer who talked a Durham man out of throwing himself off a railway viaduct has been honoured with a life-saving award.

PC Phillip Boyd, 30, put his life on the line to save the man who was perched on the viaduct in Durham City.

The drama happened last year when PC Boyd answered an emergency call to say onlookers had seen a man walking along the busy railway line and stepping over the safety barrier of the Victorian viaduct.

Dick Wilkinson, who is the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “The viaduct carries railway main lines and associated power cables.

It is 100ft high and spans a main road and a number of buildings. There is a wall 5ft high along each side.

“PC Boyd was called there on the morning of January 30 last year following a report that a man was outside the safety wall on the viaduct.

When he arrived, the man was threatening to throw himself off the viaduct to almost certain death and had already thrown his mobile phone down.”

Disregarding the obvious danger, PC Boyd walked out onto the viaduct and approached the distraught man.

He gained the man’s trust and spent more than half an hour talking to him – urging him to reconsider his decision to jump.

At the same time, the PC was in near constant contact with anxious emergency services at either end of the line and watching on more than 100ft below.

Eventually, the would-be jumper agreed to clamber back over the safety barrier.

Mr Wilkinson praised PC Boyd’s selfless act, adding: “He showed patience and perseverance and it all paid off in the end. He effectively saved the man’s life.”

The Royal Humane Society will present PC Boyd with a certificate of commendation for his actions in a presentation to be held at its London headquarters.

Mr Wilkinson added: “There is no doubt that PC Boyd was absolutely the right man for the job. It was a harrowing task, but he acted superbly.

He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award, which has been made on the recommendation of Durham Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

A spokesman for Durham Police praised PC Boyd’s actions but said he had now transferred to another force.