Woman rescued hanging from a traffic light (From Sutton Guardian)

Dramatic scenes in Sutton High Street as woman cut down from a traffic light

5:46pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News By James Pepper

Woman rescued hanging from a Sutton traffic light

Shoppers rushed to rescue to help a woman who was hanging from traffic lights this afternoon.

In dramatic scenes on Sutton High Street today, people rushed to the aid of a woman who was tied to the post outside Barclay's bank.

Concerned bystanders managed to lift the woman up to stop her choking, with some of them balancing her on their shoulders while another person rushed to cut her down.

The woman, in her 30s was taken to hospital to receive treatment.

Eyewitness Harry Dunlop, 19, said they were horrifying scenes.

He said: "I was just nipping to pick up some things from Morrisons when I saw her. It looked like she had wire around her neck and it was tied to the traffic lights.  She was choking as someone rushed off to get scissors."

Thankfully, the scissors came in the nick of time and the woman was cut down.

Mr Dunlop, who begins work at Earnst and Young in October, said: "It was quite traumatic, she was chocking and spluttering when she was cut down."

Selina Mofford, manager at spacemakers said: "I heard all the screaming but by time I got out she was on floor. It was pretty awful."

"I think quite a few people were helping her - I think about six people were trying to cut her down."

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: "We were called at about 14.50 following concerns for the welfare of the woman in her 30s.  Ambulance and police attended and the woman has been taken to a south London hospital where she is receiving medical attention."

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said: "One female patient was fully conscious and was taken to St Helier Hospital."