SECURITY guard David Thompson has been honoured for risking his life to save a suicidal man from jumping off a Swindon car park.

Mr Thompson could easily have been pulled to his death when he grabbed the 18-stone man who had let go of a ledge at the Fleming Way car park.

The courageous 23-year-old grasped the man's arms as he dangled perilously 60ft in the air until help arrived.

Now, Mr Thompson has been awarded one of the country's top lifesaving awards for his heroic rescue.

He was on duty at Debenhams near the car park when the drama started.

Westlea resident Mr Thompson was alerted by shoppers, who had spotted the man later found to have a mental illness sitting with his legs hanging over the side of the building.

He said: "I raced up, and just started talking to him. I didn't want to alarm him, so I approached casually.

"He said nobody cared about him, and he was upset that he hadn't been contacted about some blood tests."

Then, to Mr Thompson's horror, the man suddenly turned around, said: "I'm going to go now" and released his grip.

"I managed to grab one arm, then the other, while using my legs to lever him up," he said.

"It was an enormous strain as he weighed three stone more than me, and was dangling in mid-air.

"My colleagues and the police arrived in about 20 seconds, but if they hadn't got there so soon, it would have been a different story as I couldn't have carried on any longer.

"Even when they arrived, it was a struggle to get him to safety.

"I couldn't help noticing that the man didn't seem particularly pleased to have been rescued. It was only afterwards that I realised how shaken up I was."

Police took the man away for his own safety, and Mr Thompson has not seen or heard from him since the incident, on November 6 last year.

Mr Thompson, who has worked for Debenhams for three years, is now waiting to hear when he will receive the bravery award called a Testimonial On Parchment from the Royal Humane Society.

Although pleased with the recognition, Mr Thompson, who is engaged to be married next year, remains modest.

"I was aware I was putting myself in danger, but at the time I just knew I couldn't just stand there and do nothing," he said. "Looking back, I just think it shows we are all put on earth for a purpose."

Mr Thompson was nominated by the Swindon Crime Initiative Partnership, which oversees security in the town's key retail areas. He also received a letter of commendation from Wiltshire Constabulary.

Bernie Maguire, who helps run the security network as town centre manager, said: "This was a heroic deed, and shows town centre security is not just about stopping theft, but also about community safety."

The Royal Humane Society's secretary, Major General Christopher Tyler, also heaped warm praise on the former Hreod Parkway pupil.

He said: "But for Mr Thompson's intervention, this man would certainly have died."