Dad Saves Himself from Suicide Thanks to Police Heroics
A dad-of-two who once threatened to jump off Nottingham’s Trent Bridge has made a heartfelt thank you to the police officers who pulled him back from the edge.
From Dark Despair to Hope
Darren Cox, 39, from Ilkeston, was in a dark place. After a messy breakup and losing his chef job during the pandemic, suicidal thoughts overwhelmed him.
In May 2022, police got a chilling call: Darren was on the brink, threatening to leap from Trent Bridge.
Officers arrived just in time. Darren had started to straddle the bridge railings when they grabbed him, pulling him to safety. He was then assessed by the force’s mental health team.
Police Praise Shows What a Difference They Make
On 4 April, Darren went to the Force HQ at 1 Lodge bearing chocolates and a card to thank the team.
“When I stood on that bridge, I did not feel anything. All I wanted was to jump. I remember banging my head on the railings and a police officer pulling me to safety,” Darren said.
“An officer sat with me in the van and said: ‘we will get you the help you need.’ They saved my life. I wouldn’t be here for my kids if it weren’t for the police. They really cared.”
PC Jamie Severn was among the officers on the scene. He works with Nottinghamshire Police’s Street Triage Team – a specialist unit formed in 2014 that teams cops with psychiatric nurses.
The team handles roughly 800 crisis calls a month, many involving suicide threats.
“Darren was in deep crisis, needing urgent help or he might have taken his own life that day,” PC Severn said.
“It’s brilliant Darren came back to HQ and is doing well. Often we don’t get to see such positive endings after we help.
“Saving Darren was a team effort. In my 28 years of policing, this is the most rewarding work. You see real lives changed when you get involved.”
Darren’s New Mission: Helping Others
Since that day, Darren’s life has turned around. He hopes to start a charity supporting men struggling with mental health.
He’s kept the red jacket and trainers he wore the day he almost jumped – as a reminder of how far he’s come.
“My life has changed massively. People need to know there’s help out there. You don’t have to suffer alone,” Darren said.
“When I was at my lowest, the police were there. I wouldn’t be here today without them.”
