Man lying on grass outside

[ChekhovsMum]

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?

If you aren’t used to people randomly plonking themselves down outside your house, I can see why it would be unsettling. Glad he is okay and has moved on.

DH and I came across a gentleman on a hill walk, appeared asleep but very difficult to rouse and in the most odd place, just off the path, with his feet basically across the path. I was worried he was unconscious at first and being an RMN, couldn’t really just do what everyone else was doing and ignore him🤷‍♀️

He was very drunk and possibly under the influence of drugs, quite confused and agitated when I woke him, thought he was at home and asked why was I in his house🫣

Glad DH was with me but it was fine, we gave him some water, oriented him to time and place and he made his way in the direction he thought home was, thanking us for helping him.

Don’t think there is anything wrong with caring and checking in with people.

When I was in my very early twenties I did this once. I had come off a horse and was feeling really woozy though I hadn't been knocked out. I had been with other people who took the horses home and left me behind.

The person whose house was behind the verge I was lying on drove in and asked what I was doing. I said I had hit my head and was just waiting until I felt OK to stand up and walk home. She looked grumpy and drove off. I was in a rural area and various other people drove straight past. No one else stopped.

OP at least you cared enough to ask.

yes - all those people saying police wouldn't have done something they would near me, they would have "moved him on".

They would treat it like vagrancy.

Thanks OP for the refreshing, there is still hope for humanity, thread you've started. It seems there are still many people who will stop and ask strangers if they are ok and need any help.

Maybe he was an auditor and was actually hoping someone would call police on him 😄

Well done you for being a caring human being. I am glad that at the same time you were aware to keep yourself safe. The only different thing I would have done would have been to offer him some water or a cup of tea.

Not if he was sober and using crutches. I hope not anyway.

People stopping to rest is not "vagrancy" at least in the UK. Where do you live?

Round my way there are frequently drunk people crashed out on public grassy bits. Granted most don't have crutches. You'd smell it if a person was totally pissed, it wafts off them and they could knock you over if they breathed on you.
I generally ask if they're ok as I wander past and they either snore in reply, wave a hand or say they're fine.The grass is across from my flat so I can periodically see if anything has changed.
Never a dull moment round here.

Ours sit in the bloody churchyard. They're harmless honestly, if there's ever a problem it's usually between themselves. One offered to carry my shopping bags the other day, I said I'm alright thanks and he was laughing saying "I promise I'm not gonna steal it!" 😂 I've lived here my whole life and raised DS here and he's used to it as well. They don't beg for money or anything.

That is so bizarre as a very similar thing happened to me a year or so ago! A man was lying on the pavement opposite our house and we could see he had two walking sticks/crutches with him. He looked about 40ish I would say. My partner went to see if he needed any help but he refused and then about 10 minutes later got up and walked off! Must have been drunk and just having a rest I guess...🤷🏻‍♀️

Sounds like a typical day in Brixton to me. I don’t see what the problem is

🤣

So the person says they are fine, you don’t see anything about their condition that worries you

he was lying on the ground. That's pretty worrying as presumably there's a reason. Especially as he has crutches.

But I imagine he's wandered off long ago now.

Maybe... The crutches are the reason. Again, residential streets don't offer benches usually to rest on, do they.

Gosh ! Perish the thought . If it ever were to happen , I'd beckon one of my cleaners , demand a broom and I'd go shooing orff the blighter .

The story of the Good Samaritan springs to mind.

A few years ago in the SE of England. I came out of a Pet Shop. Not a particularly busy area. I missed the last step and landed on my bottom but with blood coming from my knee. I was wearing my works lanyard and was respectably dressed. People didn’t stop and no one came to see if I was ok. This is an unfriendly area and over the years hasn’t improved.

We had an elderly, neighbour who recently died and was buried. We weren’t told. We’d lived across the road from each other for over 20 years So sad as we’d have attended the funeral. She was a neighbour and we care. No other neighbour thinks this is odd behaviour.

The crutches are the reason. Again, residential streets don't offer benches usually to rest on, do they.

@Thesunnymood Well then in a way that's proof he was in some sort of trouble.

And there do tend to be walls someone can perch on.

Also in my experience, a person on crutches (who presumably has a leg problem) if they want to rest will pause for a while whilst standing and resting on them.

The last thing someone well/lucid who's got a leg or hip problem serious enough for crutches would do is lie on the ground. Because it would be hard for them to get back up.

I was wearing my works lanyard and was respectably dressed. People didn’t stop and no one came to see if I was ok.

@Sainte Ugh, sorry to hear that.

If I felt uncomfortable or concerned I'd probably call the non emergency police line for advice 🤷‍♀️. It sounds pretty random and weird tbh. I mean if you wanna go lay down, go to the park or somewhere else.

It doesn’t matter what you think about it. He has as much right to be there as you have.

I know this is from yesterday but if anyone ever finds themselves in the position of OP and the individual has stated they don't want help... please FFS don't call emergency services (999 or otherwise).

I cannot tell you how infuriating it is to get called out to people like this when it's taking resources away from people who actually want and need help.

I think he decided to lie there just to see if someone started a thread on Mumsnet about him.

taking resources away from people who actually want and need help.

Plenty of people can need help without realizing the extent of the help that they need, or wanting to go to hospital etc (even when they should be there.)