Kind smile stopped me from taking my own life

A SUICIDAL woman ready to throw herself from a bridge has thanked a driver who saved her by positioning his truck to break her fall – then flashing a warm smile.

Daisy Ellis says she was brought back from the brink by the stranger’s kindness and that of others on the A500 in Staffordshire.

The former student said the driver’s grin made her realise “the world isn’t cold or dark – it’s full of people who are selfless”.

Daisy, of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs, has now tracked him down thanks to social media and revealed his name is Jason.

In the same post she thanked a passer- by named Leigh who risked himself by sitting with her on the wrong side of the bridge railings above the dual carriageway. She also urged others in despair to talk.

Written soon after Thursday’s incident, she said: “Before I could even think two trucks stopped dead in their tracks and parked up under the bridge directly under where I was stood. The one man got out looked up and me and smiled.

“In that very moment I realised the world isn’t cold or dark – it’s full of people who are selfless enough to stop their day for someone else.

“He didn’t need to look up at me but he did. He knew what it meant and so did I.

“It has opened my eyes. You don’t need family or friends because there are plenty of people in this world that care for you regardless.” Daisy, who started getting professional help the same day, later gave an update. She revealed she is now in contact with the smiling trucker and added: “Thank you everyone. You all saved me.”

If you need to talk, contact Samaritans on 116 123 or jo@ samaritans. org or Papyrus for under 35s.