I once encountered someone who was contemplating jumping from a bridge. My immediate response was to keep him talking, no matter what, because I just didn't know what else to do? Everything I said agitated him more, to the point where he actually ran across the road to the other side of the bridge to get away from me.
Fortunately, I managed to flag down a passing ambulance and a paramedic intervened. This seemed to calm things down for a while until the police arrived.
However, one of the officers had the same effect as I had and the situation became quite desperate. His female colleague intervened though and that's when the situation turned around.
I ended up sitting in the ambulance with the paramedics while the drama unfolded. Eventually, the policewoman came over and said the guy was willing to get into the ambulance so long as 'that man' is not there (meaning me). So I bid my farewell to my new paramedic friends and left the scene.
I doubt he was going to jump initially but I wonder, if it was left to just me, whether the outcome would have been more tragic?
Fortunately, I managed to flag down a passing ambulance and a paramedic intervened. This seemed to calm things down for a while until the police arrived.
However, one of the officers had the same effect as I had and the situation became quite desperate. His female colleague intervened though and that's when the situation turned around.
I ended up sitting in the ambulance with the paramedics while the drama unfolded. Eventually, the policewoman came over and said the guy was willing to get into the ambulance so long as 'that man' is not there (meaning me). So I bid my farewell to my new paramedic friends and left the scene.
I doubt he was going to jump initially but I wonder, if it was left to just me, whether the outcome would have been more tragic?