Yesterday, police said the efforts of the Dubbo NSW Fire Brigade probably saved his life.

About 4.25pm on Thursday, the 43-year-old man was seen walking along the bridge, before officers from the Orana Local Area Command were contacted by his relatives who were concerned for his safety.

On Thursday, police said the man appeared to have lost his grip when he attempted to climb down from the bridge.

Officers from the fire brigade were attempting to manoeuvre a fire engine under the man as he lowered himself through a hole in the bridge.

Police said the man appeared to have lost his grip, hitting the truck on the way down.

Acting Orana Local Area Command (LAC) crime manager Detective Sergeant Mark Meredith said all the emergency services concerned worked in an extremely professional manner.

“The cooperation between emergency services is always of a high standard in Dubbo,” he said.

“The assistance provided by the Dubbo NSW Fire Brigade was excellent and certainly their effort in attempting to assist the man from the bridge probably saved his life.”

There were dozens of onlookers, including young children around the area at the time and Det. Sgt. Meredith said police and emergency services did what they could to set up a wide enough perimeter around the scene.

“In circumstances such as those, police attempt to contain and restrict a wide enough perimeter so they can do their job,” he said.

A representative from the Australian Rail Track Corporation was at the scene on Thursday and told the Daily Liberal that at the time of the man being on the bridge, all trains had been blocked.

Police were diverting traffic from Bligh Street into Talbrager Street, and the highway from the other end was blocked completely.

anna.yeo@ruralpress .com