UK radio presenter rescues caller following suicide attempt

A radio program took a heartbreaking turn when a caller revealed on air that he was dying in the street after attempting suicide.

A UK radio host has been hailed as a hero after saving a dying man’s life while on air.

Iain Lee, a renowned TalkRADIO presenter, was hosting the Late Night Alternative program earlier this week when he took a call from a listener identified only as Chris.

The man revealed he had overdosed and was dying on a street after suffering from PTSD for years.

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Chris told Mr Lee he didn’t want to live any longer, and drifted in and out of consciousness live on air.

But the popular host was determined to save the man, so he kept him talking for half an hour as his producer contacted emergency services.

“Tell you what, Chris — I don’t want you to die tonight. I need to know what street you’re on,” Mr Lee told the gravely ill man.

“I want you to get through tonight and chat to me tomorrow, when you haven’t got a load of drugs in you.

“I don’t want you to die tonight because I love you. I love you, brother. I love you.

“Someone’s going to come and help you.”

Tonight we took a call from a man who had taken an overdose. He was lying in a street in Plymouth, dying. We managed to keep him online, get a description of what he looked like and was wearing, work out where he was and send an ambulance and police to him. Kept him on the phone

— Iain Lee - talkRADIO (@iainlee) December 20, 2018

Afterwards, Mr Lee tweeted about the harrowing experience.

“Tonight we took a call from a man who had taken an overdose. He was lying in a street in Plymouth, dying,” he posted.

“We managed to keep him online, get a description of what he looked like and was wearing, work out where he was and send an ambulance and police to him.

“Kept him on the phone for 30 minutes while he got harder to understand.

“Long periods of silence where I thought he’d died. F**k, that was intense and upsetting.

“I really hope he makes it.”

Presenter Iain Lee broke down after learning Chris had survived. Picture: YouTube

Later, Mr Lee broke down in tears after being told paramedics had reached Chris in time and managed to save him after the show’s producer gave emergency services a description of the man and his location.

According to The Sun, a South Western Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed the radio station staff had helped saved the man.

“Paramedics were called at 11pm, December 19 to Derry’s Cross, Plymouth by a radio station who were concerned for the welfare of a patient,” the spokesman said.

“The male patient was treated at the scene and taken onto Derriford Hospital ED for further treatment.”

Mr Lee was also showered in praise by Cornwall Police on Twitter.

“This is a very typical call for us sadly and December is a hard month for many,” Inspector Kev Morley said.

“We will do our best to direct him to long term support. And thanks to you for the part you played. We all have a role to play in supporting those that are struggling.”

Mr Lee, who appeared on the UK version of I’m a Celebrity in 2017, later thanked his supporters for their kind words on social media, where he has been described as a hero.

“Been an odd day for so many reasons. I really appreciate your kind words,” he tweeted.

“Just read about the incident on @iainlee’s show last night. He might have thought he was just doing the right thing, but that is hero level stuff. The biggest tipping of my hat possible. You never know when you might have to save your own ‘Chris’,” one Twitter user wrote, while another added: “I listened to this last night and @iainlee and @FlippinKath did an amazing job. It just shows we all have a role to play in preventing suicide.”

If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.

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