This story was the subject of one of my first blogs for Moodscope, years ago. I recounted it recently to a friend who is thinking of joining the Samaritans. He was very moved and astounded, so I hope you will excuse me repeating it.

In 2000 a young man aged 19, called Kevin Hines, decided to end his life by jumping off the famous Golden Gate bridge in California. Adopted as a baby, he had been epileptic since childhood, and then became Bi-Polar. I heard him being interviewed on Radio 4 and he described how the psychosis and despair left him the very instant when he let go of the rails. He desperately longed to stay alive.

He hit the water at 75mph, breaking every bone in his body, pulverising his spine and knocking out all his teeth. He could not believe that he was still alive, and able to see light above him. His joy was short-lived when a shark arrived and started lifting him up. The dreadful irony, to survive the jump and end up being killed by a shark.

Luckily the coast guards arrived, and he was rescued. Many months were spent in hospital while he underwent numerous operations, including crafting a new spine from what remained, enabling him to walk again.

When he was well enough, he made it his mission to get metal safety nets installed not just on the Golden Gate, but other high risk bridges. He is now very happily working to stop suicides, along with his wife.

After his recovery he was invited onto a TV show, to meet the man who was standing beside him when he jumped, the same person who raised the alarm. Kevin recounted the episode with the shark, only to be told there never was one. The moment he hit the water the bystanders watched as a sea lion shot over and kept pushing him up above water until rescue arrived.

I hope anyone reading this today who feels there is no point in living will give the Moodscope family the chance to keep them afloat until help arrives.

Val

A Moodscope member