A DJ has been unmasked as the hero who saved a woman as she was about to jump from a bridge over a busy road.

Police chiefs in Swinton, Salford, are now set to put Adam Cottom forward for a top force award.

Adam, who DJs at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, is understood to have been with a friend in an Audi when they saw a woman on the wrong side of railings on a bridge over the East Lancashire Road in Swinton, near its junction with Moorside Road.

They stopped the car and Adam, from Wigan, ran up steps at the side of the bridge to reach her.

Police confirmed the woman was pulled to safety by Adam as she threatened to jump and was taken away to get help and support.

Police in Swinton however didn’t know the names of the two men involved - as they left before giving their details to officers at the scene on Saturday.

They issued an appeal on social media to thank them - and Adam was immediately identified. It’s believed his friend remained in the car as Adam ran to the woman’s aid.

Writing on Facebook, Adam told how the woman actually jumped, but he managed to grab hold of her and pull her back to safety.

He said: “Driving through Manchester and some woman was climbing over a bridge to jump off so pulled over and ran up fast as I could. She actually jumped and I just managed to drag her back over.”

He described the incident as ‘the most horrible thing I’ve ever had to do’ and added: “Sad world we live in.”

Swinton police wrote on Facebook later: “The social media appeal to find the Good Samaritan who stopped the lady from jumping off a bridge in Swinton found the chap within a couple of hours. Thank you Adam Cottom, from Wigan.”

The section of road involved is a busy, four-way junction. Traffic immediately came to a standstill as drivers saw the woman and stopped before Adam ran up the steps to her.

News of the heroic rescue was shared by police on Twitter and Facebook - with Adam’s actions attracting huge praise from the public.

Pamela Kircher wrote on Facebook in response to the story: “Well done lads most people would just drive on.”

Sarah Jane Whitty added: “Aw good on ya lads. Most people would carry on driving without a thought. Faith in humanity restored. Hope the lady gets the help she needs.”

And Jane Hill added: “Well done to the two men. Hope the lady gets help too.” The woman involved wasn’t hurt, police confirmed.

MORE FROM THE M.E.N:

MORE FROM THE M.E.N: