A couple of minor circumstances put me behind time for walking my dogs today and I decided to take them up the Sidlaws (Hills north of Dundee) for a good 2-3 hour tramp over the heather. Duly did that, bundled them  back into my car and set off down the country roads towards Dundee. I passed one area which has just been 'tarted up' with a path that goes along the old Dronley railway line and they've made a small carpark for anyone wanting to park then walk the route. I looked at a car in the carpark and thought I saw a hose coming from the exhaust to the passenger window. So I turned around and drove into the carpark, got out and walked over.

My suspicions were confirmed as there was a man in the driver's seat but that had been reclined, 2 empty packets of pills, a bottle of spirits and a note on the passenger seat. I seemed to go onto autopilot, I phoned 999 and was put through to Police control so I gave the woman operator all the details, she asked me to pull the hose off the exhaust and as she was getting information from me, a policeman from the local station arrived, opened the car door and pulled the man out, still semi-conscious (Thankfully!). More policemen arrived, ambulance control phoned my mobile and then spoke to one of the policemen to get directions.    I had to give a statement on how I had found this guy and then the ambulance arrived, strapped a mask to his face and then got him into a chair and took him aboard the ambulance.  

BUT..... just think had I not been delayed by those couple of problems, I wouldn't have passed this man at that time and as it was Good Friday, the roads were quieter, he could have sat for a lot longer or someone else could've passed and not twigged what was happening.

I've been down for a while but I could never resort to taking my own life, this poor man must've been desperate.    I only hope with some help he will come to realise what he could've done to himself and to those he left behind.  

Well done to you Christine...a good samaritan :-D

A colleague of mine found a guy in the same circumstances...it was late at night and in a secluded area, luckily Kev was working out of hours, stopped to have a drink and spotted the hose going into the window.

Obviously meant to be! Well done Christine, a lot of people would not have bothered to check it out. Without meaning any disrespect at all to anyone, it reminded me of that scene in "The full monty".

I'm a great believer in fate and that definitely seems to have had a hand in today's event for you and the man you saved, C :-)  Fingers crossed he'll get help with whatever brought him to this drastic action.  I'm sure his family will be eternally grateful that you showed up when you did.

Christine - I think some things are just meant to happen. It wasn't this guys time to die so certain circumstances delayed you and put you at that place at that time.

You certainly did your good deed for today. Although it must have been a real shock finding him.

Ailsa

You know Ailsa, it wasn't.   As I say I went onto autopilot, even a couple of the policemen asked if I was ok & I am.    Friend of mine always says I should write a book about my exploits when I'm out dog walking because so much seems to happen to me!

Well done Christine. I'm sure that any family he has will be so grateful you were passing and able to help and in time the man will be too. It is dreadful that people get to such a stage that suicide seems the only option. I too have been very low at some points in my life but could never resort to something like this.

Christine, I'm sure that God put you there at that time for a reason! Well done you, for having the nose for a problem and the courage to act on it! Gold star day for a wonderful woman!!! XXX

Right place and right time for you today Christine - I often wonder at how things sometimes seem to happen for a reason. Your delay in starting out saved this man's life and your quick thinking will mean so much to his family and loved ones.

well done x

Well done Christine, I am sure that there will be a lot of people eternally grateful to you.

Christine, fancy a house guest?? I could do with a little excitment in my very boring days at the moment!!! I'll repay you with a holiday in Greece??!!!:-p ;-)

Well done, Christine! Fate, or God, or mere chance - whatever - meant you were in the right place at the right time. There will be many people today who're so thankful for that, and have been given another chance.

A good day's work. :-)

Nearly 30 years ago, a friend of ours tried to kill himself in his car.   He was found just in time, and he and his family have never stopped giving thanks for the "nosiness" of the chap who found him.

I'm sure you are going to be in a family's prayers tonight, Christine!

Margot

Well done Christine!  I hope the poor man now gets the help that perhaps he did not know where to find. 

Well done Christine.  In time this poor guy will hopefully realise that you passing by when you did was meant to be and he'll get the help needed to overcome his reasons for doing such a desparate act.

Goodness Christine, well done for staying calm and getting help for the poor man. He obviously was very serious about taking his life, I so hope he does get the help he needs now and his life can seem worth living again.

Well done for intervening Christine, hope the man gets the support he needs now and can resolve the issues that led to him feeling that suicide was his only option.

I heard today from the first Police Officer on the scene, yesterday, just to update me.  The gentleman who was taken into hospital was getting discharged this afternoon   Personally I think this is way too soon.  I do hope he's got some psychiatric aftercare.

thank goodness you passed him!

are you ok yourself? it must have been quite a shock

If he has been assessed and is being discharged there will be no psychiatric illness.  the majority of suicides are not linked to mental illness but distress in response to environmental stressors like debt, relationship problems, abuse etc.  The recession is, in my opinion going to cause a huge increase in the amounts of people dying through suicide.  how tragic for the man.

I think you could do with a a giant easter egg for intervention.  In agreement with one of the other posters, the mans friends and family will be eternally grateful to you. 

Lets hope that he gets the help and encouragement that he obviously needs and realises that life is precious. Well done to you for giving him his second chance at life.

We have a new 'Angel of the North' ;)
   All credit to you Christine! I knew you'd be level headed, just the right person in the right place. :)
My name's not Earl but I do have a swaying to Karma...... x

Fate, Im a great beliver, it was not his time to go and you were in the right place at the right time. Are you OK? its a shock for anyone you could have just driven on. Well done you.

Christine, HG is right, you were that guys guardian angel that day!  He got a second chance and hopefully he will use it well.  Personally I would probably strangle the guy for giving me such a fright.  Hope you are ok!

Umm no HG, that's my name! :)

Well done Christina, What a lucky gentleman to have you passing.  I'm not good in situations, but would like to think that should the need arise, I would step up and be able to take control.

Simone :)

I'm fine, thanks all for asking.     It was one of these 'double take' situations where I turned around to actually confirm if I had seen a hose coming from the exhaust to the passenger side window...and I did.

I hope he's ok, he was seemingly getting discharged on Satrday afternoon, that's the last I have heard.

What a trauma for you Christine - although by all accounts you really did go into auto pilot, Thank God. 

How blessed that poor man was that you happened to be there, especially when you wouldn't normally be - these things definitely happen for a reason and his Guardian Angel came in the form of you that day.

I hope he hasn't been left to his own devices and that he's having follow up care and counselling.  It may be that he will recognise himself that it was nowt short of miraculous that he was found in time by someone who could keep their head.

Well done kiddo,
Teri