Syahir Jamaludin, 31, said he was grateful for the recognition and pleased to be able to elevate the image of the fire and rescue department.

“The incident happened while I was going home to the island from Seberang Prai at about 3pm. I decided to stop by the roadside when I saw the commotion on the bridge.

“I saw a woman was attempting to jump from the bridge and some members of the public were coaxing her not to.

“I just put into practice what I had learnt through the training I received,” he told reporters after receiving a special certificate of appreciation from housing and local government ministry secretary-general M Noor Azman Taib today.

Syahir, from Kedah, has been a firefighter for 12 years and is currently attached to the Jalan Perak fire and rescue station.

Yesterday, a video of the incident showing the firefighter rushing towards a woman, who was standing on the edge of the Penang Bridge, was shared widely on social media.

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