Driver passing by saw man 'having a bad day' and immediately wrestled him to the ground — it ended up saving his life
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
It’s not always possible to tell when someone is struggling. As human beings, we’re called towards kindness and to actively help those hurting at any stage of their woes. A man named Jax Parkin revealed that he was able to provide help to a stranger, per Birmingham Live. He recalled noticing the man and getting the idea that he didn’t feel great or was having a rough day. Not knowing what it really was, he decided to intervene and that made all the difference. Though he took an unusual approach and had to wrestle the man to the ground, it became a life-saving act.
Parkin mentioned that he was driving by the A38 Aston Expressway, Birmingham, when he spotted the man. He had no idea who he was but felt something was off about the way he was there. "I started walking towards him and he saw me coming and panicked a little bit," he explained. He noticed how the man had been standing with his head in his hands and was looking out for what felt like “ages.” “He just looked really upset like he'd had a really bad day,” Parkin added. As he was approaching the stranger, the most dreadful thing he feared was already happening right before his eyes.
The distressed person tried to take his own life by attempting to jump off the bridge. Reports from the World Health Organization stated that around 720,000 people die of suicide every year. The number of people who attempt is far higher. “He was climbing up onto the railing and I'm thinking 'God', so I quite quickly ran over to him and my heart was pounding,” Parkin remarked. He rushed to the stranger and was able to get hold of him before it was too late. The person got frustrated and was overwhelmed, making it more difficult for Parkin to hold onto him. However, he was determined not to let him go.
"I had to grab him and pull him back off and end up wrestling on the ground with him,” he shared. It was a terrifying experience, but in that moment, all Parkin could care about was saving another life. He managed to call the authorities and got the man to safety. The stranger opened up to him and finally revealed that he had been struggling with his mental health and had no one to confide in after moving. The officers later took control of the situation but it left an eye-opening perspective for Parkin. While he was glad to have saved a life, the idea that no one else stopped felt gut-wrenching.
“There were loads of people driving past, people who would have been driving past before [me] and after, and the fact nobody else stopped is quite sad,” he said. He added that the mindset of “someone else will help him” from a previous passerby could have resulted in the loss of a precious life. "If you can stop somebody before they get to that point, before they are on that bridge, then that's just as good — if not better." Parkin shared a public message to reach out and be a pillar for those struggling and if you are on the other end, seeking help is one of the bravest and strongest things to do.
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)
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