Policeman saves suicidal man with a hug

An off-duty US police officer driving home from a 12-hour shift has saved the life of a man threatening to jump from a bridge, before embracing him in a hug.

Officer Dan Hicks found the man sitting on the edge of a highway overpass in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday evening.

CCTV shows Officer Hicks approach the man slowly and begin to talk with him.

In just a few seconds the man starts to climb back to safety with Officer Hicks's help, before the policeman pulls him in for a hug.

"He got a big old Dan Hicks bear hug, whether he wanted it or not," he told WRAL-TV.

"The other part of it was he was not going to be given the opportunity to go over that bridge again. He got to stand there with me for a second and get that hug.

"Call it tactical, call it compassionate, I think it was probably both."

Paramedics were quickly on hand to get the man mental health help.

Readers who are seeking assistance can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.