Galway man sees reality of suicide on charity trek

A Galway man, who has embarked on a 5,000 mile trek of England to raise awareness about suicide, actually witnessed a woman trying to take her own life as she stood on a bridge.

He could not believe what he saw as he watched the police eventually talking the woman out of jumping into the water below.

Colm Farrell has completed just over 2,000 miles of a walk through the English countryside to try and highlight the problem of suicide and the effects it has on families.

But he could scarcely believe the fact that he would witness an attempted suicide on his travels and was impressed by the manner in which the woman was talked out of taking her own life.

Colm (47) was crossing the Humber Bridge near Hull when he noticed some activity ahead of him and discovered that the emergency services were trying to coax a woman from jumping over.

He was no further than 100 feet away from the scene as he watched police talking to the woman on the bridge, trying to convince her not to jump.

It was somewhat ironic that Colm would witness such an incident as he has been raising awareness about suicide for the past couple of years.

The former publican embarked on two walking tours of Ireland – the first in the 26 counties and the second throughout the whole of the island – and finds accommodation wherever he goes.

He travels with a rucksack which contains his clothes, a laptop and a tent which is used in the event of him not being offered accommodation which has been something of a rarity.

Earlier this year he decided to take his campaign to England and has embarked on a 5,000 mile walking trek. His arrival at locations is heralded on social media websites and invariably he has loads of offers of accommodation because of the worthy cause he is trying to highlight.

Colm, who represents the charity Console, told a local newspaper in Hull: “I was just standing there, hoping this woman was not going to end her own life. She got hold of the railings. Thank God, I couldn’t see what was happening.

“Fair play to the police. I don’t know what they said or did but they obviously did a good job. My only hope is this person will get proper help now.

“That seems to be the problem – when people attempt to take their own lives there’s not always help. They put them on medication and send them on their merry way.”

Colm, from Tuam, was inspired to take on his walk after losing friends to suicide. He has since met and helped others struggling with depression and mental illness along the way.