Bus station worker who saved boy's life welcomes campaign

Colin Partridge said: "Sometimes you have to make the effort to have a conversation with those who you think might need help"

A bus station supervisor who prevented a teenager from taking his own life is welcoming a new campaign to train bus drivers to help vulnerable people.

Colin Partridge saw the person on a bridge near Bath bus station last year and managed to stop them jumping off.

"[I] then had a chat with them and just tried reassuring them," he said.

New research shows people at risk of suicide are increasingly using buses to travel to the place they plan to take their lives.

The new campaign by Bristol-based Suicide Prevention UK and First West of England will train drivers about the signs to look out for among distressed passengers and to be aware of suicide risk areas on bus routes.

It will also point people to relevant support and guidance through its onboard posters.

Mr Partridge hopes it will "give a bit of reassurance if needed for people suffering and struggling".

He explained it was an early morning shift during summer 2022 when he noticed someone trying to climb over the river bridge.

The onboard marketing campaign is being rolled out onto more than 500 buses in the West

Mr Partridge shouted out to see if he needed help.

"Then I realised that they were going to actually jump into the river.

"So I managed to grab hold of him as he was going over and pull him back."

He talked to the boy and explained there was "help out there".

Data from Suicide Prevention's volunteer patrols suggests the number of people using public transport to get to the location where they plan to take their life has increased over recent years.

Some of the reasons given include it being a cheaper way to travel, not being in the right frame of mind to drive their own vehicle, making it harder for them to be located.

Suicide Prevention takes "numerous phone calls" from people with suicidal thoughts who may be travelling on the bus

"It can be incredibly difficult to recognise if someone is in crisis and at risk of ending their lives," said Marianne Ramnath, the charity's operations manager.

"Suicide is scary and uncomfortable to talk about, but by raising awareness, educating each other, making it known that there is support out there and encouraging people to reach out for help, together we can break the stigma and save lives."

Marianne Ramnath said the campaign will help drivers "to save lives"

Drivers will also be given advice on how to get help quickly if they think someone is considering or about to take their own life.

Mr Partridge added: "That bus trip could be that person's final journey, and if there was information on the vehicles it may get someone to think twice and maybe encourage them to call the helpline and just talk to someone."

First West of England's managing director Doug Claringbold said: "Anyone contemplating suicide must be in the most desperate state imaginable and we must do all we can to help them recognise that there is help, and there are people to talk to."