Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

I found a body today (Tw: suicide)

95 replies

Cailleach · 14/06/2019 18:44

OP post edited by MNHQ

i went for a walk very early this morning and found a body at the foot of a local viaduct.

He was about 40 years old, I would say. He'd been there overnight, I'd guess.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this really - trying to process it I suppose. I have been in a dark place recently myself.

Please try to be kind to everyone you meet, folks. I know it can be hard to do at times, but you never know what other people are going through.

OP posts:
MzHz · 14/06/2019 18:52

You poor thing! Are you ok? Have you got someone to be with you?

I think your Be nice to everyone message is a good idea. Be kind to yourself too.

Scion123 · 14/06/2019 18:54

Gosh that’s devastating. Look after yourself won’t you, that’s going to take some serious processing. Lots of love to you and to that poor soul’s family and friends. So sad to think of how desperate he must have felt in that moment.

Original poster
Cailleach · 14/06/2019 18:55

No, I have no-one with me, just the cat. She is good at sitting with me though - actually she's on my lap right now.

I really want to know the man's name for some reason.

OP posts:
vdbfamily · 14/06/2019 18:56

Oh my goodness. What a horrible sick for you. You are right though. We have little idea what is going on for people, even those we know well and we should be kind. Hope you are okay. X

Ratbagcatbag · 14/06/2019 18:56

Do you have someone who can be with you? It will be really tough to process. Poor you for finding him and how devastating for everyone involved.

gamerchick · 14/06/2019 18:56

Ah poor bloke.

Please please talk to someone and keep an eye on yourself, it must have been a terrible shock for you. Flowers

gloriagloria223 · 14/06/2019 18:56

That's really tough op. Have the police pointed you in the right direction re resources to help you deal with this.

You poor thing.

gloriagloria223 · 14/06/2019 18:57

*?

vdbfamily · 14/06/2019 18:57

Shock not sick.

Scion123 · 14/06/2019 18:57

Cats can be a real comfort sometimes. I expect it’ll be in the local paper at some point. So sad. Seek help if you need it, that’s a heavy load to carry.

PurpleDaisies · 14/06/2019 18:57

Is there anyone you can visit? I’m sure a friend would be happy to have you call in under the circumstances x

justanswerthephone · 14/06/2019 18:57

I would want to know who he was as well, I think that's part of understanding for you. It must have been a terrible shock, I do hope that cat is on top love form this evening Thanks

imip · 14/06/2019 18:57

Oh gosh, I’m very sorry. I’m pretty sure you’re entitled to victim support. The police should have advised you about that.

stucknoue · 14/06/2019 18:58

So sorry, I know it's the hardest part of the job for first responders. Make sure you get some help, the police can advise

DramaAlpaca · 14/06/2019 18:59

Oh gosh, how shocking for you. Hope you are OK, you might need to talk to someone to help you process this, so seek help if you feel you need to.

So sorry for that poor man, too.

Original poster
Cailleach · 14/06/2019 19:01

The police just took a brief statement from me - and contact details. They didn't really say much to me, it was obvious he'd been there some hours, and the area is a notorious suicide spot. It's just a bit surreal, is all...I keep seeing his face...

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 14/06/2019 19:01

That must have been a horrific shock for you.
Please look after yourself and ask for help if you need to talk about what you witnessed. I expect at the moment you are still somewhat shocked and processing things.
It is so sad that this person couldn't find the help he needed.

TreeSunset · 14/06/2019 19:02

If you were my friend I would absolutely have you over for the evening and do whatever you wanted. I think it’s lovely that you want to know his name. It won’t help his family immediately but it might in the long run to know someone cared enough to find out.

AllTheCakes · 14/06/2019 19:03

I had a similar experience at work once and found someone who had committed suicide. It was a truly awful experience and something I will never forget. I didn’t seek help at all and it took me a long, long time to stop having flashbacks and picturing the body. I really urge you to speak to a professional to help you process what has happened. Flowers

HandInGove · 14/06/2019 19:04

So sorry OP Flowers what an absolutely terrible shock for you.

There are some organisations that deal with issues around suicide that you could call to talk about it- this page has links:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/

The info on that page is geared towards people feeling suicidal themselves, but the organisations to contact would be relevant to your experience too. Please do call someone to talk about it and talk to people IRL.

RIP to the poor man and to those he has left behind too. Flowers

LuckyLou7 · 14/06/2019 19:04

What a horrible experience for you, and how sad that the man saw no other option but to end his life.

There are various helplines available and I'm pretty sure if you called 101, they would be able to advise you. Look after yourself and take comfort from your cat. It's not called pet therapy for nothing.

spaniorita · 14/06/2019 19:06

Arh @Cailleach I'm so sorry to hear this has happened. Do take time to process this, and ask for help from people around you. I have been there myself so I know how you're feeling. Sleep will help you rationalise in the first instance, and be kind to yourself over the coming days and weeks.

Yawninfinitum · 14/06/2019 19:06

Sorry OP but this is really inappropriate- someone may recognise this description.

Imagine if this was your loved one

I will report.

MyGastIsFlabbered · 14/06/2019 19:07

Gosh poor you. And poor guy feeling he had no other choice. I've been there and it's awful. I think you have to give yourself permission to process it however you can, there's no right or wrong way.

TheSassyAssassin · 14/06/2019 19:08

I saw a murder victim once OP. That kind of thing stays with you. Don't lock it in a box. Talk about it. I found out who the woman was (tragically it remains an unsolved case) and for some reason it did help to put it into perspective for me, so your thoughts about knowing who he was are not a bad thing. But equally do realise there was nothing you could have done. Whatever made him do this was clearly too much for him to handle. He wouldn't have known anything about it, no pain etc. But tough for you right now. Be nice to yourself and chat here or in RL if you need to Flowers