Man puts hit on own life
A GOLD Coast man who posted an online advertisement for someone to kill him in exchange for everything he owns has received an overwhelming response from social media users who rallied to save him.
The man put the hit out on his own life via a Facebook page called ‘Gold Coast buy, sell and swap with easy rules’, about 5pm yesterday.
“I will pay someone with everything I own for one favour ... anyone interested?” he wrote.
He went on to list his valuables which included “$300 + TV Xbox One, 360, PlayStation 2, about 100 games, 60 DVDs (and) 2 laptops”.
“All that if one person grants my request,” he wrote.
“Not a joke, the favour is simple ... Kill me.”
Hundreds of Facebook users immediately responded but they weren’t vying for the job. Those who were able to ascertain where the man lived – including one man 50kms away in Yatala – rushed to his aid while others contacted emergency services. But it was the dozens of messages of hope and support that ultimately “overwhelmed” him most.
“What good are your belongings when you’re in jail charged with murder? I’d rather get you some help,” Facebook user Daisy Chain wrote.
“Message me anytime you want to vent,” Karen Holmes wrote.
“There’s plenty out there to live for,” Nick Lucas posted.
The man responded: “I’ve tried ... but I’m over it ... I want to be at peace”.
“I’ve been in this same spot for 5 years ... I want the suffering to end ... I want to go to the next world,” he continued.
A few members of the group provided their phone numbers and suicide support contacts while others kept him talking.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson confirmed paramedics attended a residence in Burleigh Waters in relation to the incident. He could not comment further for privacy reasons.
A woman who said she was the man’s mother wrote a public message to the Facebook group that helped her son.
“I want to apologise,” she said. “I know this has upset people and possibly triggered others. The messages of support are overwhelming.”
She said her son was “really taken aback by everyone’s kind words and encouragement”.
“QPS & QAS have been, and he has voluntarily gone with them to Robina hospital. (He) is diagnosed (with a condition) and medicated with a big team behind him.
“I would like your members to know how grateful I am to them and that he is OK and being looked after.”
Facebook user Margaret Thomson wrote: “Makes me have faith in humanity.”
I WANT TO APOLOGISE ... THE MESSAGES OF SUPPORT ARE OVERWHELMING MAN’S MOTHER