Distressed man threatening self-harm refused to share his location — quick-thinking cops relied on photographic memory to get him to safety
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
A tense evening unfolded for Nottinghamshire officers when a man in distress threatened to take his own life but refused to reveal where he was. The situation left authorities with very little to go on, except for a grainy photo the man had sent to a friend. Acting quickly, officers relied on their knowledge of the local area and a careful memory of the surroundings to piece together where he might be. As reported by Nottinghamshire Police, the incident took place on Monday, January 12, 2026, and ended with the man being safely located and offered support. The alertness and calm actions of the officers turned what could have been a tragic moment into a successful rescue.
The call came in just after 6 p.m., prompting Broxtowe’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and response officers to act immediately. With the photo as their only clue, officers compared it with Google Maps and used their experience of the area to narrow down the location. When they arrived, the man, who is in his 30s, had already moved, but fresh footprints in the muddy ground provided a lead. “Thankfully, the officers had a great local knowledge of the area and were able to identify the picture as near to the M1,” Chief Inspector Arnie Ahmed said. By tracking the footprints, the officers found the man in an underpass and remained with him until additional emergency services arrived at the scene.
The officers’ careful and swift decisions highlighted how critical local knowledge and observation can be in emergencies. “With threats to life incidents, time is of the utmost importance,” Chief Inspector Ahmed added. He emphasized that without the officers’ quick thinking, the outcome could have been very different. The man is now receiving welfare support and is expected to make a full recovery. Nottinghamshire Police praised the teamwork and dedication of both neighborhood and response officers, showing how decisive action and experience can save lives in even the most uncertain situations. "Our officers will always be there in people’s hour of need, as this incident demonstrates."
Police officers often step in to help, whether to catch criminals or to support someone in distress. In another incident, a woman was standing on a bridge above the Holston River the day after Christmas, ready to jump, when several people noticed her and called for help. Trooper Jacob Tizzard rushed to the scene and remained calm despite the danger. “How can we help her? How can we talk her down?” he thought as he approached. For over an hour, Tizzard and other officers spoke to her, letting her know they cared and that her struggles could be overcome. “Ma’am, you’ve got every opportunity in the world to turn your life around. There’s nothing that you’re facing right now that you can’t fix,” he reassured her. With the help of Trooper Lance Willis, who held onto Tizzard’s belt, he carefully pulled the woman to safety while teams in a boat waited below.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
More on Amplify
NYPD officer bursts into tears after talking a suicidal man down from the side of a bridge