FOUR young college students who stopped a man from taking his own life on a motorway bridge have received awards for their heroic actions.

Kaileb Walters, Nathan Kenyon, Connor O’Hara and James Barnshaw, who are aged 17 and 18, came to the aid of the distressed man on the bridge over the M62 at junction nine for Winwick on Friday lunchtime.

The teenagers were walking home from Warrington and Vale Royal College – formerly Warrington Collegiate – when they came across the man.

Nathan, 17, said: “We were just walking home from college when we saw the man – we asked if he was ok and he said no, we knew then that something wasn’t right.

“Kaileb and I put ourselves between him and the edge of the bridge and kept a gentle hand on him, partly for reassurance.

“We have only known each other for two years but we are best friends – we’re like brothers.

“Usually it is just me and Kaileb who walk home that way, but we couldn’t have done it on our own – we all pulled together.

“We didn’t do it for the recognition – it was just instinct and something we hope any other human would do.”

The final year public services students comforted the man, who was threatening to jump onto the M62, before police arrived on the scene.

Former Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil Kaileb added: “He was obviously distressed so we just tried to keep him calm while we waited for the police.

“We were talking about normal things like football – he was a really nice, genuine guy who was obviously in a state of distress.

“We just wanted to help and we really hope he is getting the help he needs now and that he is ok.”

Inspector Hannah Friend from Cheshire Police visited Warrington and Vale Royal College on Monday to present the teens with awards.

She said: “Fortunately, four members of the public – who we know to be Connor, Kaileb, James and Nathan – were there to help.

“Without their intervention it is possible the male may have come to harm in his distressed state.

“These individuals have acted with compassion, bravery and selflessness – they have demonstrated the best qualities of community spirit and have rightly been described as pillars of the community for their outstanding assistance during this incident.”

Collegiate principal Nichola Newton added: “We are so incredibly proud of Kaileb, Nathan, Connor and James – they are a credit to the college.”