A DETENTION for late coursework enabled four school friends to save the life of a homeless man who tried to jump off the Old Dee Bridge last Thursday.

Queens Park High pupils Saul Chambers, Niall Haycock, Lewis Davenport and Lewis Dennan, all 16, were walking back from school.

Saul Chambers said: “Because of detention we were late back from school. We saw a dodgy-looking character with his leg over the railings.

“He seemed drunk so we walked past. One of us turned round and saw he had put both legs over and was preparing to jump.

“We all ran over to him and grabbed him tight. A lady rang the police and we hugged him against the railings until they arrived.

“He kept repeating over and over he wanted to die. We held on to him for a good 20 minutes before the police arrived.

Chester Sergeant Andy Pickup said: “I attended the scene after original officers had pulled the man back over the railings and arrested him under the Mental Health Act.

“I didn’t realise the part these four lads had played in stopping the man from plunging into the river and I applaud their efforts.

“On Thursday the river was flooded and any of them could have been pulled over by the man if he had really struggled and fallen. They risked their lives.

“It is encouraging these young lads rushed to the aid of someone in need.”

Queen’s Park High teacher Heather Staniland who has been the boys’ form teacher for four years said: “They are lovely boys who knew their duty to their neighbour and they acted on it.”

Chris Davenport, Lewis’s mother, said: “Teenage boys get a lot of bad press and I am really proud of all four boys. They didn’t have to get involved but they couldn’t walk away.

“They are heroes.”