Students form human chain to save suicidal woman

Video: The students spotted the woman walking deeper and deeper into the freezing ocean

University students in China have rescued a woman who was apparently attempting to commit suicide in freezing sea water by forming a human chain. (ITN)

University students in China have rescued a woman who was apparently attempting to commit suicide in freezing sea water by forming a human chain.

The students were playing in the snow in the city of Qinhuangdao when one of them noticed a woman, fully clothed, standing in the ocean and gradually moving further away into deeper water. She was about 50m away when she was first sighted.

18 students from Yanshan University formed a human chain so they could reach the woman and pull her to safety. They created a chain about three to four metres long to guide the woman and the rest of them back onto shore. Witnesses said that the woman then fled the scene once she was safely on land.

Local police in Qinhuangdao, which is located in northeast China's Hebei province, said they had received numerous reports of a woman behaving in a similar fashion and that they assume she is suffering from psychological distress.

Chen Xuepei, who participated in rescue, told ECNS, China's English-language news website, "At that time everyone was anxious. We just rushed directly to the sea without thinking much."

The incident, which took place on December 7, comes just days after another video emerged from China of a woman attempting to commit suicide by jumping from a 10-storey window. She was saved by quick-thinking firemen and family members before she could jump.

Suicide is a preventable cause of death and anyone who feels they may be at risk should contact The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.