Exclusive: Woman coaxed down from window ledge (From Croydon Guardian)

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Exclusive: Woman coaxed down from window ledge

12:19pm Thursday 15th May 2008

comment Comments (17) Have your say »

By Kirsty Whalley »

A woman threatening to jump off a window ledge at Jurys Inn in Croydon last night had to be coaxed down by the manager of the hotel.

A witness said a woman on the 10th floor of the hotel threatened to jump out of the window at the hotel near Dingwall Road about 8pm.

"Police cordoned off surrounding roads while firemen and ambulances waited directly outside the hotel," he said.

He added that the woman was eventually coaxed down by the manager of the hotel.

Donal Stafford, the general manager of Jury's Inn, said: "The incident is being handled by the police and the fire brigade.

"We are very pleased that our staff were able to assist the emergency services last night and are unable to comment further on the incident."

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Bob Peel, Croydon says...
2:55pm Fri 16 May 08

Should have let her jump.

All those resources there were wasted.

She should have been told, 'You either jump or you come inside. Make your mind up quick because I've better things to do than deal with wimmin!'

There's too much pandering to attention seekers nowadays.

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Saddened, Croydon says...
3:14pm Fri 16 May 08

Typical BP comment, with absolutely no consideration hwatsoever for the poor person/s that would have had to clean up the mess this woman would have left on the floor. Plus the delays that would have been caused to all the commuters in the UKBA buildings, when they could be at work removing all those illegals!!!

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Ben, Wallington says...
7:57pm Fri 16 May 08

Thanks to the manager for stopping her jumping - my car was parked below the window and was roped off for a while... Total overkill by the emergency services though, three fire engines, loads of firemen stood there clearly thought it was a waste of time too!

I can understand her wanting to jump though - I stayed in a Jury's Inn once and was quite tempted myself!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
4:54pm Sat 17 May 08

How incredibly sad that none of you seem to care about the poor woman. She must have been in an incredible state of extreme distress - let's hope none of you ever feels suicidal.

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Bob Peel, Croydon says...
11:10pm Sat 17 May 08

Anne, all the wannabee jumpers I've ever dealt with have never jumped.

The reason being that those who *really* want to do away with themselves just do it - no grandstanding for the emergency services, no crying out for help. They just quietly do away with themselves.

If there had been no LFB/LAB or MetPol the woman would have just gone back inside, sobered up and gone about her business the next day.

But this way - she makes the papers.

Heartless b'stard? I don't think so.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
3:30pm Sun 18 May 08

Firstly - wannabee jumpers are not always drunk, though the drink does give them some courage. We all (including police) have a duty of care and should never let someone do away with themselves. As mentioned on another site - I worked in a prison and in a mental hospital. I have seen people in really deep distress. Attention seeking, maybe - butr it is a cry for help. The person who cries out for help should get it - however long it takes and however many police officers and emergency services have to do it. She would not have gone about her business the next day - she would have carried on feeling suicidal. My mother took two overdoses because of panic attacks, and I eventually sold her house so that she could receive extra care somewhere else. Someone who attends the CCPCG has told us all that both he and his partner attempted suicide - he is a really lovely bloke. So try being compassionate, Bob, for a change.

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carly, london says...
9:53am Mon 19 May 08

Ok, I see Annes point of view, that obviously people daring enough to even stand on a window ledge need some sort of help.
But like Bob said, if they really wanted to do it, they wouldn't stand there & cause a fuss, they would just go for it. No hesitation. But if they hesitated then really they may be doubting themselves.
I have to agree with Bob personally.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
10:41am Mon 19 May 08

Jumping off a window ledge is quite frightening. The person would be hesitating and hoping that someone would try and convince them not to. Death is just too final. I know someone who is very depressed and can't get help when he needs it because he is on a waiting list to see a Consultant and may have to wait six months. That is just awful. I knew someone else who was in a violent marriage and all attempts to leave would fail - he would always find her. In the end she decided that her only course of action was to get herself into hospital with the aid of a bottle full of pills. You have to understand what deep despair is. Nobody should be allowed to die just like that.

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carly, london says...
10:56am Mon 19 May 08

I understand what you mean Anne, thats why I said that if someone has gone to that length then they need help, & it is a bit clear to see that really. It is a cry for help.
But I think aolt of people think it will solve their problems & the ones that I am aware of who go ahead usually do it in secret.
I dont mean to bring it up but the case of Mark Speight, he wasn't found for nearly 6 days was it?
I studied suicide at school, I know its not much, but I found that most people do it just as a cry for help. However there are a few who just go for it. This will forever be a mixed debate.

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V.K, Croydon says...
11:40am Mon 19 May 08

Do you blame her really?
She must look at the world around her and be disgusted!
If i didnt have ppl around me id prob kill myself to, this place is a dump!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:41pm Mon 19 May 08

Two mothers had an article in one of our daily papers recently - both had lost sons in their 20s. Neither son had ever felt able to talk to their parents about how desperate they felt. Those two women feel absolutely awful.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:55pm Mon 19 May 08

I did put another comment in, Carly, in reply to yours, but the POST COMMENT bit has not worked yet. Something is either not right with this site or with my Broadband!!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:55pm Mon 19 May 08

I did put another comment in, Carly, in reply to yours, but the POST COMMENT bit has not worked yet. Something is either not right with this site or with my Broadband!!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:56pm Mon 19 May 08

Third attempt!!!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:56pm Mon 19 May 08

Third attempt!!!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:57pm Mon 19 May 08

Fourth attempt!!!!

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carly, london says...
2:55pm Mon 19 May 08

Give it time Anne I think this thing is a bit slow, it does come up eventually but I think you have to come out of the article then go in after 5 mins or so.

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