Colchester: Response officers praised by man rescued after mental health crisis

Warning: This article contains references to suicide and self-harm.

Two officers from Colchester Local Policing Team have been thanked by a man they saved after he attempted to take his own life.

PC Benjamin Clark and PC Jacob Parker found James* motionless in his car in a remote area at Abberton Reservoir following a search operation lasting several hours.

They feared they were too late, but James - who was injured and in urgent need of medical care - sat up and opened his door.

After gaining his trust, the officers administered first aid and then convinced James to let them drive him to hospital.

James’s mental health has improved significantly since the incident thanks to the support of his family and NHS specialists.

He was recently reunited with PC Clark and PC Parker and wrote to the force to express his gratitude.

James said the search operation “undoubtedly saved my life” and that “both the professionalism and compassion exhibited by everyone involved throughout this ordeal was nothing short of remarkable”.

He added: “I am profoundly grateful for the support extended not only to myself but also to my family during this distressing time… The Essex Police department exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and compassion, and for that, I am forever thankful.

“My heartfelt thanks go out to each member of the team for their selfless service and dedication to protecting and serving the community.”

James was initially reported as a missing person, and PC Clark and PC Parker joined the search when they came on shift. Phone pings had given officers a wide search area, the police helicopter had been mobilised without success and there was no trace of James’s car.

The search was on verge of being scaled down when the duo spotted James’s vehicle.

“It took us by surprise,” said PC Clark. “We didn’t expect to find him, and we didn’t expect him to be in the car. It was steamed up and there was blood on the windows. We banged on the window and he sat up.”

The pair talked to James about what had led him to this situation and emphasised that they were there to help him. They were then joined by an officer from the rural engagement team who assisted with the first aid.

Faced with a potential wait for an ambulance, the officers talked James into getting into the police car and going to hospital, which he was initially reluctant to do.

Months later, the officers were delighted to see how much James’s life has changed since that night.

PC Clark said: “James told us how he was well on the path to recovery. He is starting a new job and said he’s become closer with his family.

“He thanked me and my colleagues endlessly for helping him get the help he so desperately needed and saving his life. He is in a much better place.”

For PC Parker this was wholly new experience as he was just a month into his policing career. He said the incident reaffirmed his choice to serve his community:

“This job made me realise why I’d joined the police. It quickly went from a missing person case to ‘We’ve got a life to save here’. To find out that James has turned his life around is really good to hear.

“He said we’d opened his eyes to the amount of help that is out there and made him appreciate he had a lot going for him. To get that feedback does make me proud.”

PC Clark echoed his colleague’s thoughts, adding: “I am proud to put on my uniform every shift and help those around me. This was simply another day at work but hearing the impact my colleagues and I had that night really makes all the difference.”

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available:

Mental health

• CALM: visit www.thecalmzone.net or ring 0800 585 858
• Heads Together: visit www.headstogether.org.uk
• Mind: visit www.mind.org.uk or ring 0300 123 3393

Suicide prevention charities

• Papyrus for under 35s: visit www.papyrus-uk.org ring 0800 068 41 41 or email [email protected]
• Samaritans: visit www.samaritans.org ring 116 123 or email [email protected]
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS): visit uksobs.org ring 0300 111 5065 or email [email protected]
• The Craig Tyler Trust (Basildon): thecraigtylertrust.co.uk

Specialist support for men

• ANDYSMANCLUB: andysmanclub.co.uk

• Movember:  www.uk.movember.com

*name has been changed.

We're offering more ways for our communities to stay up to date with our work across Essex.

Our e-newsletter, Dispatch, delivers news, information, and advice from Essex Police.

Dispatch is a ‘one stop shop’ for local police news – direct from the source. 

Sign up is completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities. 

If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.

Find out if you #FitTheBill by visiting our careers page.