A MAN was fighting for his life last night after falling more than 20 feet from a tourist town bridge.

The patient, believed to be aged in his 40s, sustained multiple injuries as a result of the fall in the centre of Llangollen. He was taken by ambulance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Emergency services received calls at about 8pm about a man, believed to be local, threatening to throw himself off the bridge.

Police quickly set up an operation in a bid to prevent the man from jumping. It included establishing a cordon in the Castle Street area of the town to keep passing traffic and pedestrians away from the scene.

Eyewitnesses who were near the bridge saw a man take part in lengthy animated discussions with another man. At just after 9pm he fell onto rocks below.

Police, fire and ambulance personnel were present in strong numbers. After the man had plummeted a rescue mission was immediately launched in a bid to save his life.

Specialised equipment which included stretcher and winches were seen being used. The patient was placed into a waiting ambulance. Just after 10pm he was taken to the Maelor. Soon afterwards the operation was scaled down and the road fully reopened by 10.15pm.

One of the eye witnesses to the night’s dramatic events said: “It seemed to begin in the late evening when a man was seen to be standing on the wall of the bridge.

“The police were called and there were a lot of officers here. Members of the public gathered as well, because the news was spreading around the town.

“They were waiting to see what was happening. No-one seemed to know what the reason for it all was, although some people were speculating.”