Couldn’t have thought my shift would have an interesting turn at 02.00 on Saturday.
Left the yard at Parkhouse bound for Stanstead about ten minutes before the lemmings were released, when after only five minutes onto the A500 the old bill parked across the road with his blues on just before the Tunstall turnoff.
Told me there was a jumper on the Longport bridge, then asked me and the Yodel driver behind me to park side by side to block the A500 just past the Tunstall exit.
Just my luck, when the lemmings turned up, they were directed off at the Tunstall slip, back on the other side to go down the A34.
The copper then had me and Yodel drive side by side down to the Longport bridge and park underneath so if the jumper went for it, they wouldn’t have far to go? Made sure I put my tacho on break, don’t know how long this could be!
Turns out it was a female and was lying on the concrete edge outside the barrier, smoking and chatting to a copper who was trying to persuade her to get in his car so he could take her home. She was having none of it for about 15 minutes, then stood up, threw her arms round the copper and started crying saying she wanted her husband.
Once she was over the barrier we were let off, cost about 20 minutes all told.
Just goes to show, you don’t know what goes on in other people’s lives.
I hope that she doesnt make a habit of it.A jumper once got onto the Forth Railway Bridge and caused mayhem the railway had to stop as well as the surrounding roads .
Last year I had the miss fortune of hitting one. Held for 5 hrs. Truck impounded so got the train home.
Inquest came back with a verdict of accidental death due to insufficient evidence for suicide etc.
nick2008:
Last year I had the miss fortune of hitting one. Held for 5 hrs. Truck impounded so got the train home.
Inquest came back with a verdict of accidental death due to insufficient evidence for suicide etc.
Sorry to hear that, I imagine the shock of having somthing like that happen must be overwhelming.
nick2008:
Last year I had the miss fortune of hitting one. Held for 5 hrs. Truck impounded so got the train home.
Inquest came back with a verdict of accidental death due to insufficient evidence for suicide etc.
Sorry to hear that, I imagine the shock of having somthing like that happen must be overwhelming.
Na it might sound uncaring but he was well gone when I hit him so in my mind he was no longer a person it’s just a way of dealing with it. Mind I spent a few years around hospitals and dead bodies etc so it doesn’t faze me seeing bodies in quite poor states .
It’s always nice to hear they haven’t jumped as most of the time it’s a cry for help, yes attention seeking but at times that’s the only way to get the help
It might sound heartless even though I have every sympathy for someone that desperate. I just wonder if plod should tazer a ‘jumper’ if its safe to do so. Most of them actually have no intension of jumping and the hold up can cost a fortune.
