A young woman had tears streaming down her face as she sat alone in the dark by London Bridge – but the capital’s crowds hurried past as she contemplated the brink.
In the hustle and bustle of a weekend night, it was easy for the masses making their way from one pub to another to miss her anguish.
Police officers had asked her to move off the concrete wall she was perched on, in case she happened to fall.
But Marianne, from the charity Bridge Watch, saw straight away that this young woman was a risk to herself and needed support.
She intervened, and told Metro: ‘I asked her if she was alright, and she told me yes. But I quite bluntly asked if she was considering suicide, and she burst into tears.’
The woman said she was not actively about to jump, but had struggled with mental health difficulties in the past, and wanted to go home.
‘We walked her away from the bridge and to her station,’ Marianne said. ‘I have never forgotten her, and hope she is doing okay.’
This story is just one of hundreds from Bridge Watch since it formed in December 2023 – one life it has worked to save.
Metro joined them on a wintry December morning to witness firsthand the life-saving volunteering the charity does.
‘There was a gap in intervention on the ground’
Bridge Watch volunteers prepared themselves for another darkly lit morning shift – overseen by London’s iconic skyline as they got ready to watch over the city’s inhabitants.
Latest London news
Around 10 of us met at Tower Bridge pier, splitting off from there into groups to monitor everything from the embankments to the stairs.
And with Christmas fast approaching and people suffering from loneliness over the festive period, the volunteers have been taking as many shifts as they can before or after work.
Neil Livingstone, who has been volunteering with the group from the very start, told Metro it is worth it to stop people from ending their lives.
Paul Moloney, who is co-ordinator of the group, added: ‘There was a gap in support systems.
‘There are people ready to rescue them from the water, but there no one on the ground ready to spot them before they did something drastic.’
‘Sometimes it takes some brutal words, but what do you have to lose?’
The group have training to learn how to spot someone at risk and what to do next in supporting them.
If someone is stood still on their own looking over the bridge, that can usually be the first sign that they may need intervention.
Marianne said: ‘We just go up, ask if they are okay, and then immediately ask “are you thinking about suicide”.
‘It can sound quite shocking but with that type of question, it cuts through everything. And you then get a really honest reaction.’
The person either suddenly and awkwardly insists they were just enjoying the view, but for others it sparks an emotional release to acknowledge they need some help.
But what if someone already has one foot over the railings?
Hannah Liptrot, who has volunteered with the group since 2023, said: ‘I have come across one person who believed jumping over was the only way out, and that it would be a “quick death”.
‘But I also work with the RNLI, and I assured him it wasn’t. I told him he will stay alive for around 10 minutes and it will be very cold and he will be scared. And there will be a boat dispatched to get him.
‘It sounds awfully harsh, but at that point, you do have to be brutal in your language to break the spell their mental health issues has over them.’
‘We sympathise with that hopelessness’
So why do these volunteers give up their time doing this, especially during the festive period?
On their motivation, Neil said: ‘All of us have some connection with mental health struggles. Whether ourselves or loved ones, we can sympathise with that feeling of hopelessness.’
And Christmas can be a peak time for loneliness, leaving more people in need of the charity’s support.
In 2023, the NHS found extra pressure from the holiday alongside the short winter days contribute to worsening mental health, with a third of people suffering during this period.
Those working near the bridges found in the heart of the City of London can also be more susceptible to suicide than usual due to their location.
Henry Johnstone – the Chief Operating Officer at Eastern City Business Improvement District, a non-profit which works to enhance the area – said he has had people approach him asking for support.
He told Metro: ‘Due to the notoriety and the amount of tall buildings in the area, it is sadly a somewhat common place for people to take their lives.
‘We have had a lot of security guards in particular ask us for support after witnessing suicides.’
But the Bridge Watch volunteers are still looking for more people to help man their patrols. Currently, they operate five patrols a week for four hours. And their goal is to run 24/7.
Paul added: ‘Just being able to listen and approach a suicidal person with an open heart is all that is needed to make such a huge difference.
‘Helping to run this place has changed my life.’
Samaritans are here to listen, day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email [email protected] or visit samaritans.org for more information.
