Risky roof rescue

Press, 28 October 1981, Page 10

Risky roof rescue

PA Wellington Constable Mark Davidson never wants to repeat his dramatic week-end rescue of a youth dangling from the edge of a 30-metre building. “Once is enough with a thing like that,’’ said Constable Davidson, a police dog handler, describing how he bad held the youth by a hand as he dangled over the edge of a Wellington Hospital building. Constable Davidson said he

was able to save the youth by sneaking forward four metres while trying to taik him out of jumping. When he reached the top of the building the youth had told him hot to come any closer. 7 “But I was able to gain a few extra yards doing all the normal stuff, saying that ‘it’s noti worth it' and “why are you doing it’—the stuff you see on the movies.” He said he had rushed and grabbed the youth, who was

holding on to guttering at the top of the building, “as I saw his fingers straightening and he was about to fall.” “I didn't have the grip or the power to pull him up. I knew there were other policemen in the area so I was able to use my radio which I had round my neck to call them for help. “I kept on telling the bloke to hold on and he kept on yelling that he did'nt want to die.” Constable Davidson said he held the youth by one arm

and by part of his jeersy. The youth was not holding on to the building. The wind was gusting to 60 kilometres an hour and it was raining heavily.

Constable Davidson said two other policemen arrived after about two minutes and they had pulled the youth back on to the roof.

The youth had then attacked them and the fire brigade had been called to help get him down from the roof. He was later admitted to hospital.