Brave police officers have been praised for their “swift and compassionate” response after talking a distressed man down in Punjabi from the roof of West Middlesex Hospital.

Police were called to the Twickenham Road hospital at 5:09pm yesterday to reports of a man threatening self-harm on the roof of one of its buildings.

The quick-thinking officers tried to calm the 33-year-old man down by speaking with him in the Indian language Punjabi, a police spokesman said.

But by 6.30pm the man had begun threatening self-harm once again and tied a belt around his neck having moved to the edge of the roof.

Three officers quickly ran to the man’s aid and restrained him.

Sergeant Dave Turtle said: "This was a swift and compassionate response from officers, who were able to use their language skills to prevent a tragedy occurring.

"Subsequently three other officers showed considerable presence of mind and courage to safely restrain the man."

The man is receiving treatment in hospital. He has not sustained any serious physical injury.

London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade also attended.