POLICE saved a desperate Harrow resident from suicide after a manhunt involving up to 30 officers yesterday.

Harrow missing persons unit launched the search after the man, who has since been referred to a psychiatric unit for assessment, sent his wife a text message saying he planned to end his life.

Inspector Steve Tysoe, of Harrow police, told the Harrow Times of the pressure officers were under in their race against time.

He said: “The missing persons unit reviewed all the circumstances and did a risk assessment and they assessed it as a high risk.

“I confirmed it was a critical incident and it was basically all hands to the pumps to try and locate this guy.”

Fast response teams began checking parks across the area, while the Met Police tried to find his location based on the mobile phone signal, a process known as triangulation.

Data initially showed the man was in Newbury, in Berkshire, but the search was thrown off course when he switched off his mobile.

Inspector Tysoe sent him a text message in the hope of getting him on the phone and when the man called back he had to think quickly to keep him talking.

He said: “I had to think on my feet about what I was going to say to him and I said we were just a bit concerned about him and his wellbeing.

“He said he was on his way to Hampshire. I don't think he knew where he was going or what he was going to do.

“It was just one of those horror situations where you have to be careful of what you are going to say.”

His location was pinpointed after a Detective Superintendent from the missing person's unit, kept him on the phone for another 20 minutes and local officers found him and talked him around.

Inspector Tysoe praised the missing persons unit, but dismissed suggestions the officers working the case were heroic, saying it was just “good teamwork”.

He said: “I take my hat off to the missing persons unit – they are very efficient at what they do.”