The Suicidal Man...

I posted this over at Rfm yesterday:

Hi people, I need to share this. I hope you don't mind.

I just got home from work. It is 2.50am. I was working until 10pm and then I was out with some friends at the pub. Anyway, I had a good time things were good.

Now to understand this I suppose I should give some background. Glasgow sits on a river, the Clyde it runs right through the city centre. My office sits on the river banks and I usually park on the other side of the river because it is cheaper.

Anyway, me and my friend Lisa were walking to my car across the bridge when I saw a man sitting on the side of the bridge, legs hanging over the side, head down gazeing into the black river. At first I thought he was just a curious drunk. I went up to the guy and as I approached I shouted over to him "Are ye awright mate?", his head moved but in the wrong direction away from me. So I shouted again, I have a very quiet soft voice so I really made an effort. Again no real response. By this time I was next to the guy.

I tapped his arm and he finally turned around, what faced me was a man in tears, his face was sunken from drug use, his teeth were almost all gone. He had a huge, deep gash in his forehead and a razor in his hand. There was blood coming from inside his sleeves. I started talking to him, and to be honest I can't really remember what I said. I just remember speaking calmly and asking him what he was doing. He said he was going to jump and wanted to die.

I talked with him for what seemed like ages, but was probably only a few minutes. He was just so miserable. He did not want to talk to me. I told him that if he jumped I'd go after him. I felt conflicted though. I don't want to see someone die, but at the same time it is their decision to make not mine. I just saw his sad sunken eyes, and I thought about what his childhood was like, what turns a sweet wee boy into this? Why is there no-one he can talk with? Where are his family? Why has society failed this man? I don't know.

After a while of trying to talk him of the ledge, he told me just to "Fuck Off" and again i'm torn because I just could not watch someone in such distress end it all in the freezing river. So I walked a few paces away and dialed 999 for the Police. There was also a Police van not too far from us. So I ran over to that but the Bobbies weren't in it.

Just then the man dissapeared, in the darkness and because the bridge is lit from below for effect I couldn't tell if he had gone in. So I ran as fast as I could back over the bridge, only to find that the Police had come and snuck up on him. They pulled him off the ledge, but in the process he struck his head on either the marble of the bridge or the concrete pavement. He lost conciousness, but was breathing. The Police took my details and radioed for an ambulance. The man looked in a very bad way. I had to leave. I could not watch.

I drove my friend home, and when she got out the car I just broke down. I guess I was in shock. I'm still crying. I really feel for the guy, I've been depressed and suicidal, but never have I had to talk someone else out of it.
I don't think I'll ever find out what happened, I just wanted to hug the guy and tell him things could be better. He could be dead, I don't know. I tried my best thats all I can do but I'm a total wreck.

***UPDATE***

The Police phoned this morning. They gave me an update on the man, whose name they cannot tell me.
He was taken to Hospital, his wounds were stitched and he was treated for head injuries. The police man said that the man is known to them as an alcholic.
He has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and is receiving psychiatric treatment. His Mother is with him at the Hospital.
I do hope things get better for this poor man.