Broad, Prior coaxes 'suicidal' man against jumping off Sydney bridge

English cricketers Matt Prior and Stuart Broad have reportedly helped prevent a suicidal man from jumping off a bridge in Sydney.

Police said that they were called early Wednesday morning with reports that a man was on the edge of the railing of the Pyrmont Bridge, holding on to a flagpole and confirmed that the callers were Broad and Prior, although the officers who attended were unaware who they were.

According to Telegraph.com.au, police said that both the cricketers witnessed the man, believed to be from England, throw a number of items, including his passport and wallet, into the water and make comments which have caused them to have concern for his safety, and they coaxed him down and stayed with him until police arrived.

The report mentioned that Prior and Broad, who had been attending a Barmy Army charity event nearby, talked to the man for nearly an hour before police arrived, with Prior, who pulled the man back, saying that he is glad that they left the event and were there to help the man.

The report further said that the players initially believed the man was standing on the bridge's railing as part of a dare, but upon realising the seriousness of the incident they went to the man's aid, albeit with caution as he was behaving erratically.

Prior has now returned to England but Broad is staying for the three Twenty20 matches against Australia, the report added.