THE Mayor of Douglas has congratulated a member of the council who helped to prevent a man from harming himself.

Councillor John Faragher, in his capacity as an Isle of Man Coastguard search and rescue officer, was awarded a Chief Constable's Certificate of Commendation for Courage, Patience and Initiative, earlier this year.

At a council meeting last week Mayor of Douglas Ritchie McNicholl extended his congratulations to Councillor Faragher on behalf of his fellow members for achieving the commendation that praised his "calm and low-key courage when faced with a man threatening self-harm at the edge of cliff".

The certificate also read: "'His whole demeanour and approach averted a tragedy."

Councillor Faragher said: "The incident was during the 2010 TT and happened on a cliff edge at Douglas Head where, having been alerted that a man was threatening self-harm, I spent around one and a half hours talking to him and finally managed to persuade him to leave the cliff edge and agree to undergo medical treatment.

"It is a great honour to have received the commendation but this was very much a team effort in which I was supported by my station officer David Keggin."