Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brave farmer lifts 2ft spike from his body
the cultural and societal aspects, including the pressures men face and how societal expectations can limit helpseeking when life gets tough.
“Working with Coronation Street has allowed us to engage a huge audience in the devastating effect of suicide, while providing a platform to highlight the help available for those in need of support.”
Asked how he felt when he found out how he was being written out, Shayne said: “I was heartbroken when I was first given the storyline, but it was going to be one of the biggest things I’ll ever do.
“I was scared and emotional but I’m proud. I was bawling watching it. I found it heartbreaking, it was everyone else’s performances too.”
He added: “I am very proud of what I have done in my three years on the show and on this storyline in particular.
“Aidan is an everyman figure, he is someone men can identify with, which
is important in telling this story. We hope that anyone who recognises something of themselves in Aidan will realise they can and really should, talk about how they’re feeling.
“Talking could have brought him relief from what he was going through. This is what his loved ones would have wanted.
“Suicide is a very permanent response to what are usually temporary problems.”
Some critics have said plots involving
SAMARITANS CHIEF
In 2016, 76% of all suicides in Great Britain were male (ONS, 2017).
Only 55% of men who have experienced depression will tell anyone about it, compared to 67% of women (CALM’S Masculinity Audit 2016).
child grooming, rape and baby death have made Corrie too depressing.
Outgoing show boss Kate said: “We have gone public with this now so people can decide whether they want to watch it or not. I don’t like spoilers a lot of the time, but this isn’t that kind of story.
“I would much rather people can say, ‘I am going to find it really hard, that is not for me’. However, I would hope that if people do feel it is something they want to see, [they can] learn about how they might be able to help somebody or think a bit deeper about the person next door.
“We could all do with thinking about these things a bit more.”
Next week’s episodes also show David Platt finally admitting to ex-girlfriend Shona Ramsay that he was raped by mechanic Josh Tucker. Aidan’s suicide persuades David to speak out and say he was close to ending his own life.
Shayne’s exit will be shown on ITV next Monday and Wednesday. If you are having problems or want someone to talk to anonymously, you can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123. A FARMER survived being impaled by a 2ft spike by pushing it out of his chest.
Dennis Bowman, 69, had dropped fence posts into his tractor’s front loader when its bale spike tipped over and pinned him.
He said: “I remember having to push the loader off me then saw the spike coming out of my chest.
“There was blood coming out of the hole so I knew it was worse than a sticking plaster job.”
He staggered 30 yards to his farmhouse near Penrith, Cumbria, and wife Barbara, 79, rang 999.
Dennis, who was flown to hospital in Newcastle, had a punctured lung but could have died if speared millimetres either side.
He hailed charity Great North Air Ambulance saying: “I can’t fault them.”