20 YEARS OF PRIDE OF BRITAIN
Staring at the icy waters of the River Thames, Jonny Benjamin sat on the edge of Waterloo Bridge, desperate and afraid.
Having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalised, the 20-year-old was terrified he could not cope with the condition.
Jumping into the dark waters seemed his only answer.
Hundreds of commuters passed by him, heads down, on that night in January 2008.
“I just know I was on the bridge ready to jump when I heard this voice from behind,” said Jonny.
The man listened to his fears and offered to buy him a coffee. This simple act of kindness saved Jonny’s life.
But then the stranger disappeared. It was six years later that Jonny decided to try to track down his saviour. Nicknaming him Mike, he started the #FindMike campaign on social media.
Neil Laybourn’s fiancée spotted it and knew Mike was actually Neil, who had told her about the incident.
Jonny and Neil, 36, were reunited and went on to work together to raise awareness about mental health issues.
Talking about that day, health club worker, Neil, says: “I had a sense it might be serious… there might be an innocent explanation, but I couldn’t live with myself if I heard later something had happened.”
He received the Special Recognition award from host Carol Vorderman at the 2014 Pride of Britain Awards.
“We did a documentary together and are ambassadors for the charities, Rethink Mental Health and Mental Health UK. That day changed both our lives for ever.”