Hamilton man (74) leaps 60ft from bridge

Feb 18 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A 74-year-old man cheated death after leaping 60ft from a bridge in Hamilton town centre.

Pat McGaulley had a lucky escape after jumping from the bridge near Hamilton Town House on Valentine’s Day at noon.

An off duty policeman walking along Cadzow Street watched in horror as the OAP jumped and landed in bushes below in the Cadzow Glen.

Eyewitness Neil Dewar (38), of Grammar School Square in the Old Town, was walking in the glen with his mum’s dog, Rosie, and his brother and kid when the incident occurred.

He told the Advertiser: “I think it is a miracle the old man survived.

“The first thing he said was have you got a cigarette and I gave him one.

“He then got up and walked into the back of an ambulance.

“I was expecting Buckfast bottles coming over the bridge – not an old man.”

Three fire engines and two ambulances raced to the scene after the alarm was raised.

Neil stayed with Pat until paramedics arrived.

Pat was taken to Wishaw General Hospital where he was said to be in a “critical” condition.

It is believed he had suffered crack ribs and internal injuries.

Yesterday (Wednesday), a hospital spokeswoman said he was stable.

Neil said: “I didn’t see the old man jumping but my brother heard a thud.

“The off-duty officer was shouting to us to draw our attention to the old man.

“If he hadn’t done that we wouldn’t have known he had fallen into the bushes.

“The old man was conscious and lying on his side.

“The policeman shouted instructions and used his mobile to get help.

“He asked me to keep the old man talking until help arrived.

“I didn’t want to move him as I was frightened he may have had spinal injuries and made things worse.

“He said he wasn’t sore and jumped because he was fed up.”

A Hamilton Police spokeswoman confirmed officers were sent to the scene after a 77-year-old man jumped from the bridge.