Firefighters rescue a girl from the roof of the Kingston Public Hospital yesterday. - Norman Grindley

One of the more positive traits of humanity glimmered at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) when a troubled teen, teetering on the edge of death, was saved by the swift action of a group of young policemen.

The lawmen, hampered by their high-powered weapons, rushed to the upper floors of the institution and secured the 13-year-old who stood precariously on the roof, possibly ready to jump.

A weeping female security worker told The Star that the child was being harassed by another patient and she fled to the slanted roof. It was the security worker's colleague who would be one of the first on the roof to save the traumatised teen.

Professionalism and care were on full display as the girl was contained and subdued by the trio of constables, Greg Joseph, Dameon Burrell and Kevin Dilworth, who waited with her until an ambulance arrived on the scene.

Yesterday's incident once again brought into sharp focus the need for security rails to be constructed at the facility. At least five persons have attempted to jump from the building over the past three years, not including wounded prisoners hoping to escape the long arm of the law.

Even nurses, who were 'sick' and scarce at the hospital yesterday, cast aside their financial cares to lend a helping hand on an evening when the crowd stood mute. This was in stark contrast to two years ago when a man of unsound mind was urged to jump from the high-rise structure by a heartless mob.

Yesterday's event was a far cry from those days, and a scene that inspired hope, as it was not only those tasked with aiding the sick and wounded who immediately jumped to help.