Iain Lee sends ambulance to suicide caller live on air...
 

Broadcaster Iain Lee sent an ambulance to save the life of a suicidal listener who rang his talkRADIO show.

The listener, known only as “Mark”, called in to tell Lee that he had just taken an overdose, prompting the radio host to keep him on the phone for 20 minutes and find out his address.

Mark said: “I’m having a hard time at the moment. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I’ve taken tablets.”

To which Lee responded: “All I want you to do is tell my producer your address so she can send an ambulance round.”

When Mark said he did not want to upset his wife, Lee said: “You know what would upset her more? If she found you dead in the morning, wouldn’t it? As a human being, I can’t let you die tonight.

“We’ve got ourselves in a little pickle, but it’s a pickle that can be sorted out quite easily.”

After Mark passed on his address, Lee told him: “You’ve done a really good thing Mark, thank you. The world will not be a better place if you’re dead. It will be an ever so slightly darker place.

“I promise you that, because you’re a good man, and I don’t want you to die.”

Lee later confirmed that Mark was safe. “Just got off the phone to Mark,” he tweeted. “He’s given me permission to say he’s OK. Thanks for the love you’ve sent him. I’ve told him to text me tomorrow.”

This is not the first time Lee has helped save the life of a listener. In 2018, he spoke with a suicidal caller for 30 minutes until an ambulance arrived.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/iain-lee-t...114258874.html

I can't really imagine how stressful and frightening that must feel as the host of a radio show... to have someone choose your job as the place to unload so dramatically and out of the blue.

...yeah I know...and it really would feel (psychologically..)..like a life has been placed in your hands, I know there was no responsibility on him and wouldn’t be on anyone ...but I think that’s how it would feel..?...

I don't know if it's something you've encountered much if at all in primary schools Ammi? I was utterly gobsmacked one say last year when walking home with my daughter (then aged 9) who casually tells me that one of her little classmates "keeps saying he wants to die and is going to kill himself". Nine! We called the school and told them and they obviously contacted his mum etc. because while he might just have been being "dramatic" for his friends, you do have to take these things seriously, because I can't imagine the guilt if that kid had hurt himself and I'd been like "Oh **** my daughter told me he was talking about it".

I wouldn't want to imagine what it was like to be either of them in that scenario.

At least that Mark guy was saved though, hopefully he will get all of the help that he can get.

...(..a little..)...not hugely at Primary School level, but I have known a few children with psychologists involved ...what I have had more experience of though...?...is children with either a parent or older sibling who have attempted to take their own lives...(...and in a few cases, the lives have been lost..:sad:...)...

Yes, the situation is terrible for many teens. My wife did a 2-month placement with CAMHS during her training and even in that short time encountered so many awful stories.

Of course, she works in addictions now and sadly suicide threats and attempts are just part of the job there.