Man dies after plunge from bridge

A man has died after plunging from the Dartford Crossing Bridge.

The man, who is believed to be a 42-year-old from Buckinghamshire, pulled over and had left his car while on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge shortly after 11am.
Police officers, including trained negotiators, spent several hours talking to the man trying to get him to come back over the barrier and not to jump. But at 3pm he walked to the apex of the bridge and launched himself off, plunging into the river.

He was recovered by a lifeboat and was taken to an ambulance waiting nearby before being transported to Darenth Valley Hospital in Kent, where he later died.

Police have informed the coroner of the death and a post-mortem is due to take place tomorrow (Monday).

The bridge closed at 11am causing traffic chaos in the area, with delays of three-hours, as motorists were diverted into the tunnels as they travelled clockwise on the M25, with queues stretching back to junction 29 for the A127.

A broken down lorry on the M25 anti-clockwise, approaching the tunnel, also worsened delays.

The bridge remained closed until 6pm and Police re-opened it once the man’s car was recovered.