A YOUNG MAN who helped a stranger down from the ledge of a Dublin bridge is now being thanked in a very special way.

Jamie Harrington’s story has been shared his story on the Humans of Dublin Facebook page.

The page, created by photographer Peter Varga, is inspired by the hugely popular Humans of New York.

Varga takes photos of Dubliners from all walks and talks to them about their lives.

Jamie’s story

“I was just on my way to the American sweet shop to buy some Gatorade, when I saw this guy in his 30s sitting on the ledge of the bridge.

I just thought, “wow…” I stopped and asked him if he was okay, but I knew from the look in his eyes he wasn’t, and he didn’t say anything either, but I saw tears coming from his eyes.

“I pleaded with him for a while to come down and sit on the steps, and eventually he did.

“We sat on the sidewalk on the south side of the Liffey and talked for about 45 minutes, about what was happening to him, why was he feeling that way… I couldn’t leave him there alone, but I had to go, so I was going to ring an ambulance.

“I told him they could help him feel better. But he was like “please, please don’t call them, I’m fine, I just want to walk around for a while, I’m gonna be okay!” I told him to please let me ring an ambulance, that I wouldn’t sleep knowing he was just walking around alone. So I rang it, and he was taken to St. James Hospital.

I got his number so I would know what was going on with him for a good while… And about three months ago, he texted me that his wife is pregnant, they’re having a boy, and they’re naming him after me. Can you believe that? They’re going to name their child after me.

“He said in that moment that I approached him, he was just about to jump, and those few words saved his life. That they’re still ringing in his head every day. “Are you okay?”

I can’t really understand how these few words could save his life, but he told me, “Imagine if nobody ever asked you those words…” “

Helplines:

• Console  1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)

• Aware 1890 303 302 (depression, anxiety)

• Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm)

• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)

• Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

Read: ‘He’s my best friend, my right-hand man’ – Look out for these lovely photo stories around Dublin>