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Original poster

I just saved someone’s life…

142 replies

Difficultfemale · 12/12/2024 20:00

Ok not just, but this morning. Was on the way to work, brilliant mood, high vibe tunes in the car, driving over a motorway bridge and noticed a man stood looking over the railings. On a closer look he had cans of alcohol around his feet and was stood on the bottom rung rather than the pavement. I just knew.

Stopped in the road and wound down my window to speak to him, but as I was doing this he started to climb over. Adrenaline kicked in and before I knew it I’d jumped out of my car, left it with the engine running in the middle of the road, doors open, and was running over. He was completely on the other side of the railings when I got to him. Gripped him and somehow managed to pull him over the railings. He was clearly under the influence of many, many, substances as he just wanted to ‘fly’ and was fighting the whole time. At this point I was feeling a bit out of my depth, to say the least. Unable to let go, unable to call police, I had clearly not thought this through and the panic was setting in quickly. I was screaming for help (rush hour traffic) and luckily, after what felt like an age, a man stopped to help and rang the police. The relief I felt on seeing him was immense! Luckily we managed to keep him safe until the police came but it felt like forever. I’ve had a courtesy call to let me know that thankfully he’s in a mental health suite and getting the help he needs.

Anyone else have a similar story they can share? And/or advice on how to deal with it, if (god forbid) I, or anyone else here, ends up in a similar situation ever again?

OP posts:
DoYouReally · 13/12/2024 00:07

Fair play OP, many wouldn't even notice or would keep on driving.

Don't under estimate the impact it will have on you and how important it is to discuss it with someone properly.

My experience, albeit similar, is different but left a huge mark on me. I got a phone call from someone I barely knew in a very distressed state, telling me what need needed me to do and what messages to pass on to his loved ones when he was found. I don't know how but something just kicked in and I managed to ask him where he was, what exactly he was going to do, who was going to find him and where - in my head he was alive as long as I could keep him talking. He was experiencing a mental torture that thankfully, I've never been close enough to full understand. I can really ever single word he said, even now years later. Eventually he ended the call and I phoned the gardaí. They had to get him down but thankfully he survived and from what I'm told when he regained consciousness later initially he was less than impressed I sent him help on time.

It's not something I think about daily but it's never left me.

Afterwards I did suicide training, including this course. I am posting this link in case it's of help to anyone else. I hope no one minds but I think it's important. www.ohana.ie

Do speak to someone just to make sure you are process the shock and emotion of it all.

PlatinumBrunette · 13/12/2024 00:41

Difficultfemale · 12/12/2024 20:16

Ooo thank you@Cheepcheepcheep downloading Tetris now!

Show quote history

You are a hero! Well done.

And yes, the Tetris thing absolutely works. It helps move the memories to a different ‘filing cabinet’ in your brain, so they’re easier to move by.

Carouselfish · 13/12/2024 00:54

Well done OP. More people like you who don't pass on by required.
I know someone who almost had a mutual saving situation. Was on drugs, going down a bad road in life and saw someone drowning. Jumped in to save them and the result was he turned his own life around.

ChessorBuckaroo · 13/12/2024 01:07

Well done OP. You did amazing. Hopefully he gets his life back on track.

Think we all have a duty to do something when we see someone (or something as in the case of an animal) in trouble. We are all together on this ball of rock just trying to get through each day afterall. Huge respect to those who work in the frontline services of suicide prevention.

That's amazing news on Tretis helping with PTSD. It's a very engrossing game which completely occupies your mind so it does make sense that it can help in this regard.

Jifmicroliquid · 13/12/2024 06:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Theres no problem with saying “hope he gets the help he needs”. It’s true. I hope he does.
Whether he will is a different story.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 13/12/2024 16:57

Am I the only one amazed and in awe of OP's upper body strength??!
💪💪💪

Poppity3 · 13/12/2024 17:14

Amazing OP, good on you. Like others have said, please do look after yourself - a debrief could help, or talking the situation through as many times as you need with e.g the Samaritans or another listening service/therapist.

I did CPR on someone who stopped breathing in a cafe, and it brought her back - despite the good outcome I had a good few weeks of high adrenaline and anxiety, then a week where I couldn’t get off the sofa. Having therapy helped me to understand my body/mind’s response and to go easy on myself.

Big hugs to you 💐

Sureitwont · 13/12/2024 18:18

NC because I’ve told a few people this story over the years

When I was a student, I worked night shifts in a 24 hour petrol station located on a major city ring road in a sketchy neighbourhood. One night, about 4am, I saw two little children (I’d guess 2/3 yrs old and 4/5 years old) walking along the road, no shoes, no tops, just a pair of shorts for the little boy and a pair of dungarees for the little girl. Dirty faces, hair quite matted.

Looked up and down the street, no adults in sight, so unlocked the shop (night till/window during night shifts) and ushered them in and called the police - thankfully the police arrived about 15 minutes later because they really didn’t want to stay locked in the shop.

Police updated later that the parents were drug addicts found passed out with the front door open… no carpets, no bedding, no sofa in the house. Kids were put into emergency foster care (no idea if permanently as only had the one update)

I often wonder what happened to them… they’d be in their late teens now. I also wonder what might have happened to them if I hadn’t seen them all alone wandering the streets that night. Just awful

*edited just to say well done for the quick thinking OP… a brief moment really can change many lives. You should be very proud of yourself

NannaKaren · 13/12/2024 18:23

Go you another Angel - thank you xxx

tommyhoundmum · 13/12/2024 18:27

Great stuff . You are a true hero and should get a Humane Society medal if the police refer you. Well done.

YowieeF · 13/12/2024 18:43

Firstly, well done you.

I work in an industry where suicide by mop is common sadly.

You’ve done an amazing thing!

Do talk it out, tell everyone, if that gives someone else the courage to intervene then another family will not suffer a tragic loss.

2025willbemytime · 13/12/2024 18:44

I don't know if it counts but a baby was choking on a piece of apple so I got her out of her high chair. I hesitated as I wasn't allowed to use physical chastisement. I figured better to try and save her so I hit her back a couple of times and the apple came out. Cuddle, yogurt instead. All okay.

nancyastor · 13/12/2024 18:47

Well done. I'm sure you're going to feel a whole range of emotions for a while to come. This is an incredible thing to have done and I hope the person you helped gets the support they need.

catlover123456789 · 13/12/2024 18:54

That was a really brave and amazing thing to do, honestly. I do hope the man gets the help he needs. Be kind to yourself!

WellManneredFrivolity · 13/12/2024 19:17

Thank god for people like you! The world is a shitty place a lot of the time but then there are people who do this and it makes my heart glad. 💜

ObieJoyful · 13/12/2024 19:26

I’m so glad you were there. Remember you have had a huge adrenaline rush and a shock, so take care of yourself too. 💐

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 13/12/2024 19:37

Thank you @Difficultfemale

I have lost three friends to suicide. You have saved a lot of people a lot of pain. I do hope things pick up for your man. Please seek some help to debrief, the enormity of what you have done will take a while to sink in.

Bunchymcbunchface · 13/12/2024 19:40

Years ago when I was about 12 (2989/1990) my best friend and I used to go to Margate on our own to the pleasure beach on the train.
we were sat opposite each other and these lads got on at a stop, probably around our age. They were messing around on the train, but not doing anything bad. One of them decided to come between us and stood at the door. The next minute he opened the door…….nothing happened for about 2 seconds, then the wind caught it and him and the whole door swang round at terrifying speed and were flattened against the window. He was literally looking at us through the window clinging on for dear life.
My best friend reached her arm round the door pillar and grabbed him and I jumped across next to her and held her as she had her top half out of the train.

it felt like ages but was probably only around 10 seconds, then this man lept across the carriage and grabbed this boy and pulled him in. Thinking back now it must’ve taken a lot of strength.
The kid went flying across the carriage as he sort of threw him in. The guy went absolutely mad at the lad and called him a stupid fu*king idiot etc. He shut the door and asked if we were ok. The kid just sort of laid in a heap on the floor.

It was the end of the 80’s so everyone pretty much ignored him except to tut and say how stupid he was for the rest of the journey!.

Jack80 · 13/12/2024 20:11

Glad you could help and I hope he gets the support he needs.

Undercovercourgette · 13/12/2024 20:32

Difficultfemale · 12/12/2024 20:00

Ok not just, but this morning. Was on the way to work, brilliant mood, high vibe tunes in the car, driving over a motorway bridge and noticed a man stood looking over the railings. On a closer look he had cans of alcohol around his feet and was stood on the bottom rung rather than the pavement. I just knew.

Stopped in the road and wound down my window to speak to him, but as I was doing this he started to climb over. Adrenaline kicked in and before I knew it I’d jumped out of my car, left it with the engine running in the middle of the road, doors open, and was running over. He was completely on the other side of the railings when I got to him. Gripped him and somehow managed to pull him over the railings. He was clearly under the influence of many, many, substances as he just wanted to ‘fly’ and was fighting the whole time. At this point I was feeling a bit out of my depth, to say the least. Unable to let go, unable to call police, I had clearly not thought this through and the panic was setting in quickly. I was screaming for help (rush hour traffic) and luckily, after what felt like an age, a man stopped to help and rang the police. The relief I felt on seeing him was immense! Luckily we managed to keep him safe until the police came but it felt like forever. I’ve had a courtesy call to let me know that thankfully he’s in a mental health suite and getting the help he needs.

Anyone else have a similar story they can share? And/or advice on how to deal with it, if (god forbid) I, or anyone else here, ends up in a similar situation ever again?

Angel

AgnesX · 13/12/2024 20:35

Amazing - so many people would have driven on.

I hope you're ok yourself - the aftermath 💐

Macanncheese · 13/12/2024 22:14

Difficultfemale · 12/12/2024 20:00

Ok not just, but this morning. Was on the way to work, brilliant mood, high vibe tunes in the car, driving over a motorway bridge and noticed a man stood looking over the railings. On a closer look he had cans of alcohol around his feet and was stood on the bottom rung rather than the pavement. I just knew.

Stopped in the road and wound down my window to speak to him, but as I was doing this he started to climb over. Adrenaline kicked in and before I knew it I’d jumped out of my car, left it with the engine running in the middle of the road, doors open, and was running over. He was completely on the other side of the railings when I got to him. Gripped him and somehow managed to pull him over the railings. He was clearly under the influence of many, many, substances as he just wanted to ‘fly’ and was fighting the whole time. At this point I was feeling a bit out of my depth, to say the least. Unable to let go, unable to call police, I had clearly not thought this through and the panic was setting in quickly. I was screaming for help (rush hour traffic) and luckily, after what felt like an age, a man stopped to help and rang the police. The relief I felt on seeing him was immense! Luckily we managed to keep him safe until the police came but it felt like forever. I’ve had a courtesy call to let me know that thankfully he’s in a mental health suite and getting the help he needs.

Anyone else have a similar story they can share? And/or advice on how to deal with it, if (god forbid) I, or anyone else here, ends up in a similar situation ever again?

As the sister of someone who died this way I thank you wholeheartedly for not just driving by. There should be more like you in this world xx

reluctantbrit · 13/12/2024 22:26

13/14 years ago, on a work trip to our head quarters (50 storey building) myself and another out-of-town colleague arranged to meet with some local colleagues outside the main entrance to go for dinner around 6.30 pm.

When we arrived, we saw the security guards covering a body and ensuring a safe distance, someone had managed to access the roof top (still unknown how) and jumped.

I think it took all of us who saw the aftermath a good couple of days to digest and realise what happened. Our company arranged for a helpline to a local center to be made available.

I still remember it, the "why did he feel this would be the best" to "the poor family"

You managed to not just save him but also his family.

Efrogwraig · 13/12/2024 22:50

Thank you. Great thing to do.

wineandgarden · 13/12/2024 23:23

That was really brave and you did so much good! I hope you can get over the trauma to start to feel proud of yourself. I had a similar morning which had a huge impact on me and I ended up having physio for my shoulder and trauma counselling which was brilliant - please do do this - it's really important. The trauma counselling was good in making me talk through the event and then helping me to understand that the more I talked about what had happened the easier it would get to process. She also recommended I write down the event from start to finish. I'd been walking the dog and seen a really weird long shape like a really tall person in the trees, I realised it was a body hanging so I ran towards it screaming and then just grabbed it by the legs and held it up and just talked to that body, telling it was loved etc etc for what seemed like forever. Amazingly two women walked past and were so incredible - one went for help and the other helped me try to get the body down. I was holding it too high so she asked me to lower the body so she could get the cord off - then I ended up cheek to cheek with a WARM cheek (I'd thought it was already dead) and then as I looked it was a teenage girl and it must have only just happened - we got her down, she was 16 and it turned out school, police and parents were all out looking for her. Today she's alive and well and occasionally I see her around town. I don't think she knows who I am but that memory still sits with me. I also have such anger for the two runners who ran past us with music on so loud that they couldn't hear me shouting for help. I walked away in so much shock (dog thankfully not run off!) past ambulance and police and went home. I talked to my family about it and some friends but it's been a really odd event and a formative one. I think I feel alright about it now. I had a friend come with me and we cut down the branch she hanged herself from which was good and helpful. But otherwise it's time I think? Time, counselling, still an odd shoulder from holding up a weight for I don't know how long and I do enjoy shouting at runners for having both earphones in. Take care, get some counselling and keep talking about the event so you can process.