US police officer drags suicidal man to safety

A body camera has recorded a US cop's dramatic rescue seconds before a suicidal man tried to leap to his death.

Officer Justin Martin raced to the top storey of senior living centre in Hamden, Connecticut last Friday after receiving a call about a disgruntled resident.

When the officer reaches the top floor he spotted the man rushing onto the roof prompting him to break into a sprint.

By the time the officer got outside the man was already scaling the rooftop railing and preparing to jump.

Martin dived towards the man and grabbed a hold of his belt as he dangled from the side of the building.

The officer pulled him back up and dropped him to the ground while he awaited backup.

"I just wanted to catch up to him. I didn’t want him to hurt himself. I didn’t want to lose sight of him and I didn’t know the building so I wanted to make sure that I was able to catch up to him," Martin told WTNH.

"I was able to grab his foot and he had a belt on so I was able to pull him up enough to get the belt, my other hand onto his belt and I got both hands on his waist and I was able to pull him up after that."

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.