A boy threatening to throw himself to his death has been rescued by a girl who tricked bystanders into thinking she was his girlfriend so as to get close, at which point she embraced and kissed him, allowing his rescue.

Chinese media reports the 16-year-old boy mounted a Guandong province pedestrian bridge, intending to cast himself off and to his death.

Witnessing this, a 19-year-old woman told bystanders she was in fact his girlfriend, and was allowed to approach the suicidal lad in order to talk him down. The pair had never met before.

Rather than a lengthy remonstration with the agitated boy, she soon opted for a more direct approach, embracing the boy and kissing him.

The pause allowed rescue workers to rush forward and drag him to safety, ending the drama.

The boy’s suicidal impulse is said to have stemmed from family troubles – divorced parents, a sickly elder sister and withdrawal from school all contributed to his low spirits, it is said.

The Chinese media and Internet has feted the young woman, who works the front desk at a local hotel, for her bravery and initiative. She only says she “wanted him to recognise the foolishness of his act, as I’ve done foolish things myself.”