Page 5 | Man lying on grass outside

ChekhovsMum · 2023-05-30T14:57:43+00:00

So there’s a man lying flat on his back on the grass opposite from my house. I saw him as I drove home, walking with the aid of two crutches (not elderly - I would put his age at mid-40s), then just as I pulled into my driveway he appeared to collapse to the ground, although if I had to guess, it looked like a deliberate decision, not a giving-out of his limbs, IYSWIM. I parked, went up to him and asked if he was okay - did he want me to call anyone, get him some water etc? He said he was fine and didn’t need anything, with an attitude that suggested it was weird of me to ask. 20 minutes later, he’s still there. I can see him from the window. My guess is that he’s drunk, although he didn’t come across that way when he spoke. I don’t really want to go back out because I’m home alone, and although it’s a residential street most people work very conventional hours around here, so there is a chance of not being seen/heard if I felt unsafe. I can imagine this happening when I lived in London, but this is a very family-oriented residential area in a leafy town and it just seems so bizarre. WWYD?

Littleroseseverywhere · 30/05/2023 17:09

ChekhovsMum · 30/05/2023 16:50

A bit of both. Because if he’s very drunk and I approach him on my own, he could become aggressive. That’s a thing, isn’t it?
And because whether he is or he isn’t, I can’t imagine why anyone would just stop in their tracks and lie down on a residential street if they were physically and mentally fine.

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Um if he was very drunk surely you’d spot it, it’s hard to hide. And he’s clearly not physically fine if he’s using crutches.

Wishawisha · 30/05/2023 17:11

Speermint · 30/05/2023 16:42

It’s not illegal and would be fine if it was a park or a place where you’d expect someone to lie. But a person who lies on the grass outside someone’s house is either a. unwell or b. dodgy.

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No but if it’s still not illegal then on what basis can he be moved on?

Crunchymum · 30/05/2023 17:11

I wonder how many of the posters who are so quick to be snarky with the OP have actually had anything like this happen to them?

It's all good in theory to leave some random man on the grass verge, until it's the grass verge near your house. Then I bet you wouldn't be some comfortable with it

(I am a Londoner who has had to shoo people off the bench in our locked front garden more than once a month!)

NillyNoMates · 30/05/2023 17:13

I think you did the right thing to ask him if he was ok. Is he still there now?

DisquietintheRanks · 30/05/2023 17:15

I wonder if any of the posters who think there must be something terribly wrong have tried using crutches over a distance.

user1473878824 · 30/05/2023 17:16

Speermint · 30/05/2023 16:27

I wouldn’t be happy with a stranger lying on the ground near my home, especially if he was drunk in broad daylight. It’s not respectable behaviour. The type of person who randomly lies on the ground is not the type of person you want hanging around where you live. Maybe some of you live in areas where this sort of behaviour is normal? I would want him moved on asap.

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Is it pronounced Bucket or Bouquet?

Daffodil92 · 30/05/2023 17:16

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/05/2023 17:01

I wouldn’t be happy with a stranger lying on the ground near my home, especially if he was drunk in broad daylight. It’s not respectable behaviour. The type of person who randomly lies on the ground is not the type of person you want hanging around where you live. Maybe some of you live in areas where this sort of behaviour is normal? I would want him moved on asap.

Hyacinth, is that you?

Lollll 😂

Thesunnymood · 30/05/2023 17:17

Crunchymum · 30/05/2023 17:11

I wonder how many of the posters who are so quick to be snarky with the OP have actually had anything like this happen to them?

It's all good in theory to leave some random man on the grass verge, until it's the grass verge near your house. Then I bet you wouldn't be some comfortable with it

(I am a Londoner who has had to shoo people off the bench in our locked front garden more than once a month!)

I had someone lying on our stairs when I lived in city flat. Apparently he was fine, just chilling. That was it. I also called services to help unconscious person on steps which were side entrance to council building.

He said he was fine. Suburban, or any other tbf, streets are not particularly known for ample provision of benches. If he is OK, he is OK, was just resting. It was decent from OP to check but the rest is just unnecessary. That includes some posters.

It will become unnerving in an hour+

diamondpony80 · 30/05/2023 17:17

Lol, if it wasn't for the crutches I'd wonder if it was DH you were talking about! As soon as he came back from work he went to lie on the green across from our house. And yes, we live in a family-oriented residential area too, but at this time of the year it's not uncommon for people to lie out on the grass. It is sunny here today though and quite warm. If he said he was fine I don't see any reason to get involved further.

Thesunnymood · 30/05/2023 17:17

I appear to be missing sentence after council.
... And no one cared about him.

Bedtimemode · 30/05/2023 17:19

Am I the only one that finds the mental image of OP doing her front garden while a man with crutches lies of the grass verge refusing any help hilarious?

MooMooSharoo · 30/05/2023 17:20

If I get called precious for this, so be it, but I'd probably call the non-emergency police line too.

We had an incident where someone obviously drunk or drugged up was wandering around, walking all over people's property. We live in a dead end road and he looked lost, but also totally out of it and potentially unpredictable, so I didn't feel comfortable going up to him.

I called 101 and as the operator was still talking to me a police car turned up! (Must have been a quiet day!) They chatted to him for a while, made sure he was OK, then popped him in their car to, presumably, take him home or at least put him back on the right track.

Thesunnymood · 30/05/2023 17:21

MooMooSharoo · 30/05/2023 17:20

If I get called precious for this, so be it, but I'd probably call the non-emergency police line too.

We had an incident where someone obviously drunk or drugged up was wandering around, walking all over people's property. We live in a dead end road and he looked lost, but also totally out of it and potentially unpredictable, so I didn't feel comfortable going up to him.

I called 101 and as the operator was still talking to me a police car turned up! (Must have been a quiet day!) They chatted to him for a while, made sure he was OK, then popped him in their car to, presumably, take him home or at least put him back on the right track.

That's quite different to the way OP described this guy though. In your case any would call.

Nicknacky · 30/05/2023 17:21

MooMooSharoo · 30/05/2023 17:20

If I get called precious for this, so be it, but I'd probably call the non-emergency police line too.

We had an incident where someone obviously drunk or drugged up was wandering around, walking all over people's property. We live in a dead end road and he looked lost, but also totally out of it and potentially unpredictable, so I didn't feel comfortable going up to him.

I called 101 and as the operator was still talking to me a police car turned up! (Must have been a quiet day!) They chatted to him for a while, made sure he was OK, then popped him in their car to, presumably, take him home or at least put him back on the right track.

Can you really not see the difference in the situations?

Original poster

ChekhovsMum · 30/05/2023 17:21

I did the garden for a while, glancing over to check that he hadn’t vomited. In that time a good few other uptight pearl-clutchers walked or drove past, and preciously checked on him/asked him/other passers-by if he was alright.
I went indoors for a drink and a wee and now he’s gone. I’m slightly gutted that I can’t report how! But presumably he did eventually get up by himself. He was there a good hour or more.

OP posts:

Original poster

ChekhovsMum · 30/05/2023 17:22

Bedtimemode · 30/05/2023 17:19

Am I the only one that finds the mental image of OP doing her front garden while a man with crutches lies of the grass verge refusing any help hilarious?

Ah, but, you see, that’s what Mumsnet told me to do. So I did it.

OP posts:

Puppypower83 · 30/05/2023 17:25

My dad is T1 diabetic and could appear like this having a hypo. He will tell me he’s fine and look at me like I’m mad but will be slightly dead behind the eyes and I know his count is low. It always worries me that if he collapsed people might think he’s on drink or drugs and just walk on by.
Maybe this man really did just want a lay down and couldn’t get down onto the floor easily because of needing crutches and it looked like he collapsed. But well done on asking OP!
My dad has been helped by kind people like you realising something was off.

Skyrim40 · 30/05/2023 17:28

It's a free country

MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 17:29

I have sent you a private message to see if same person I came across.

NoBiscuitsLeftInMyTin · 30/05/2023 17:32

MayBeeJuneSoon · 30/05/2023 17:04

Sounds like the drunks are infiltrating the Leafy Suburbs...

There was plenty of drunks on yachts in Swansea Marina over the weekend….. shocking behaviour

InsomniacVampire · 30/05/2023 17:37

Poor guy probably got fed up of people asking him if he is OK every 3 minutes and could not relax.

Ketzele · 30/05/2023 17:37

This is MN so of course you got monstered, OP, but I do understand. I was recently coming home from work and passed a guy asleep on the pavement. Ah he's drunk, I thought, and went to walk on, but then got thinking of all those articles I read where someone had a stroke/heart attack/diabetic coma and was left dying on the street because passersby just assumed they were drunk. And yes, he did look like a street drinker, but was I stereotyping him? Street drinkers get ill too right?

I tried waking him but no joy. So I rang 999 and was just talking to them when a car braked beside me and a (startlingly handsome) bloke jumped out. He told me he was a cop on his way home and then shouted at the prone guy, "Wake up fella, it's time to go home!". At which the old bloke jumped up and trotted off. And I had to relay to 999 what had just happened.

Yes, I felt like a twat. But better that than go home wondering if I had just left someone to die on the street. That's humanity, not pearl clutching.

Jourdain11 · 30/05/2023 17:37

I can imagine this happening when I lived in London

Yep, because in London we all just lie around all over the place - on the grass, on the pavements. Went to the park yesterday and there were tonnes of people lying down on the grass. Shocker!

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/05/2023 17:39

There was plenty of drunks on yachts in Swansea Marina over the weekend….. shocking behaviour

Ah, the "Snotty Yachty Brigade" in their Gin Palaces.

Whapples · 30/05/2023 17:39

I’ve sat on the floor before because walking has been painful and I needed to stop (no benches). I also use a stick/crutch to walk so may be similar. I wouldn’t need help and would probably just say I was resting rather than give my medical details. I wouldn’t worry too much as long as he isn’t bothering anyone.