A BARRISTER from Liverpool has been credited with saving a girl’s life after intervening in a suicide attempt from a motorway bridge.
Sue Sherman, a barrister at Chavasse Court Chambers, could not drive past when she saw a 15-year-old straddling a motorway bridge on the M60.
Police were at St Peter’s Way, near the M60’s junction with the A666, but, after assessing the situation, Sue, a children’s care procedures specialist, believed the situation was escalating and the frightened young girl was no closer to being rescued.
She said: “I could just tell they weren’t having any success and instantly felt I should try and help. There was no way that I was going to let her go anywhere.�
Sue was heading to her Wirral home from a training conference in Bolton when traffic ground to a halt. Police had restricted the flow to a single lane and queues had built up.
“Below the bridge, traffic had also been closed off so obviously something serious had happened or had been going on for some time,� Sue said.
“Then I was given the sign to crawl past and I could see this child straddling on the other side of the bridge.
“There was a police woman, a negotiator, who was trying to talk to her and a group of policemen were standing well back and observing.�
At this point, she did what very few other people would have the confidence or ability to do. She pulled over and asked a policeman if she could help.
“I deal with troubled kids on a daily basis and that’s what I told the police. They asked if I was a trained negotiator.�
The decision was made to let Sue approach the traumatised young girl.
“I said what’s you’re name and she wouldn’t tell me. So I told her my name and spelt it. S.U.E.
“I asked her how old she was and asked her if she thought I was younger or older than her age – 15. I got a tiny bit of a smile.�
Sue then, over the course of 20 minutes, with the girl’s permission edged closer until she was close enough to touch.
“Kids need to feel empowered in making the decision. If I had grabbed her and dragged her off then, she could easily have gone back and done it a second time when she was released.
“So I said ‘Do you want to warm you’re hands on mine?’ and she did. Then I said shall we go back to the car and warm up because we’re both freezing out here.�
With that, the girl hugged her and allowed Sue to bring her in.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said Sue’s efforts had undoubtedly resulted in the teenage girl returning to safety from her perilous position on the motorway gantry.
But he added: “Greater Manchester Police would like to stress that only GMP negotiators with the correct qualifications and skills should attempt to talk to someone threatening to harm themselves.�
The 15-year-old was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital, and is believed to be receiving psychiatric support.