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A good samaritan saved his life. Now Jonny wants to say thank you.

Jonny is searching for the man who saved his life

 

 

14th of January 2008

It was 10am and Jonny Benjamin went to Waterloo Bridge in central London.

He was feeling distressed and hopeless.

He had been suffering from schizoaffective disorder a mental health condition which sees sufferers struggle with hallucinations, delusions and depression — and which caused him to consider suicide and be sectioned.

Jonny had been hearing voices since he was ten-years old. He just thought everyone had them in their head.

He had begun to think that he was being watched – just like in the movie, The Truman Show.

He believed that there were cameras in mirrors, in TV screens watching him all day long.

Standing on the Waterloo Bridge Jonny had hit rock bottom and was going to end his life.

But fate intervened and six years later Jonny is well into his recovery and desperate to say thank you to that stroke of luck that helped him that day.

It came in the form of a stranger, who he has called ‘Mike’.

He now talks freely about his struggles with mental illness on YouTube

A good samaritan who talked him down from his desperate predicament.

The stranger who approached him was calm.

“He said please don’t do this” Jonny said “I’ve been where you are and you can get better.”

The man asked him to go and have a coffee and talk about it.

’“He reminded me of what people do every day so the normality of it was really inviting.”

Jonny agreed to go with the man.

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He climbed back over the railings to safety, where police had arrived to look after him. But he says he never got to know the stranger’s name.

“His act of kindness changed my outlook on life and I have thought about him ever since. I want to find this man so I can thank him for what he did. If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Jonny is now looking for that stranger who changed the course of his life.

With the help of charity, Rethink Mental Illness, and through social media Jonny hopes he will soon find this man.

He is pleading for people who may have been in the area, who may have heard a colleague mention the incident, who might have seen something – to get in touch with him via his web site.

His campaign has caught the eye of Stephen Fry who has been sharing his tweets to help spread the message.

A film depicting his recovery is due for release in April.

In the meantime he just wants to say thank you to ‘Mike’ for saving his life.

 

If you or anyone you know suffers, needs help, or wishes to talk about mental illness contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for children and young people from 5-25 years).

They’re available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

 SANE Australia also provides a Helpline service on 1800 18 SANE (7263), Monday to Friday 9:00am-5:00pm EST.