Man talked down safely after railway bridge standoff

“Some of you seem to be under the impression that a person whose mental state has led them to want to end their life still possesses the faculties to consider the ramifications to complete strangers.

That's a bit of a ludicrous assumption really isn't it? It doesn't take much realise that's going to be as far off their radar as your thoughts are anywhere near sensible.”

“He was beckoning trains. The trains contain passengers who would be damaged by the act of him throwing himself under it.”

“Galloping bear – there are no motorists involved between a footbridge and a railway. Jumping off a railway bridge will kill nobody except the jumper. Your comparison with suicide bombers is entirely irrelevant.

There may be those who have no intention of going through with the act. We have no way of knowing for sure. We can only identify those who do intend to do so, and succeed - Anything else is guesswork.

One other point to make - Well done to the police negotiator. That must be a truly stressful job. Hope the gentleman involved receives all the support he needs.”

“To all of you who have made comments stop and think, why have you all decided this person was mentally ill, Just because the person was taken for a mental health act assessment does not mean that they will be found to be mentally unwell, some people just choose to die and as another has posted some people just want attention. Time to face upto the reality of the society we now live in......”

“Many millions of people suffer menatl illness or depression. They do not all kill themselves, and try to take other people with them. I think the well meaning sympathy is misplaced. Should we as society also symapthise with serial killers suffering from mental illness?
To endanger the lives of others, and to cause harm to others, is bad. Mitigating circumstances can be applied, but if this message is reinforced, maybe people will act out their cries for help in a less dangerous (for others) way.”

“So what is the difference then, between those who commit suicide without endangering other people and those who do.
I also think we have to recognise that there are those who threaten for attention, and those who actually want to go through with it.

What is the difference also, between somebody who throws themself off a bridge killing motorists below, and a suicide bomber? Is the first to be pitied, and the second villainised?”

“Quote - I'm too much of a coward, so heaven forbid I was ever at my wits end, it would be a bottle and packets of pills for me. - Unquote


Could you save some of your pills for the evil minded trolls on this site sometimes? You don't have to look too far to find them?

Hopefully this guy will get treatment, get better and not find himself in a position where he wants to do the same again.”

“@IsItJimKerr- pills are for Simple Minds only. (see what I did there?). Cause liver failure, very slow and painful...”

“You just don't get it do you gallopingbear? These people are suffering from mental illness - they are unable to think rationally.”

“While I totally understand the redding of the first two comments, I can agree with just a tiny bit of their view, in that often, this type of 'suicide' can have a huge impact on others.
Close family and friends, it could be argued that they should perhaps have noted a change in behaviour, but total strangers, it can be devastating.
Someone at work hung themselves a couple of years ago. The Police said it was classic. He/she had planned it weeks, maybe, months before. They left the office door open with the light on at night, so they knew someone would be suspicious of a light being on, and the body would be found.
Various other tell tell marks.
But also, the impact of the manager that found the body -If he'd investigated earlier and perhaps found the person in the middle of the attempt, so perhaps could have been stopped -the train/car driver hitting a bridge jumper -why do you think there is a 'tunnel alongside the river Avon into Bristol under Clifton Suspension Bridge?Personally, I think these people are very sick, as most of us are aware that dying in this manner is very painful. I'm too much of a coward, so heaven forbid I was ever at my wits end, it would be a bottle and packets of pills for me.
Hope the guy gets treatment, and the support of family and friends.”