Google MapsA pair of heroes managed to save a suicidal woman’s life by linking arms around her and preventing her from jumping off a motorway bridge.
The heroic pair – one a cancer survivor and the other a mum – held the woman, who’s believed to be 24, for over an hour after spotting her standing on an overpass above the A2 near Barham, Canterbury, at 10am on Monday, December 5.
Mother-of-four Vicky Dash, 32, was driving to Canterbury with her husband when she saw the young woman at 10am on Monday, December 5, The Mirror reports.
Google MapsVicky explained:
I asked my other half, what is she doing? Then I saw she was getting closer and closer to the edge. When I realised what was happening I pulled the car over and ran to her.
Mrs Dash wasn’t the only person to spot the woman as a middle-aged man known as Tom also saw her and stopped his car in the middle of the road to stop her from jumping.
According to Vicky, both her and Tom linked their arms around her to stop her from jumping.
Kent Police LogoVicky added:
We started talking to her, trying to get through to her, saying it’s not worth it. Tom said he had just got through cancer. He was saying if he can do it, she could do it to.
But she wouldn’t talk to us, she kept trying to move away and putting her feet over the edge, we kept saying ‘no no!’
In the meantime Vicky’s husband Nick called for Kent police who, after a tense hour, arrived on the scene.
When the woman recognised one of the officers she broke into tears and they managed to pull her to safety.
PA ImagesA police spokesperson commended Nick, Vicky and Tom for their bravery and for staying with her and managed to keep her calm and safe.
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected] .
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.