I’M A CELEB STAR SAVES MAN’S LIFE
He keeps overdose caller on line as cops hunt him
I’M A Celebrity star Iain Lee was hailed a hero for saving a man’s life after he took an overdose.
The TalkRadio host kept the caller to his show on the phone while police hunted him down.
I’M A Celebrity star Iain Lee was hailed a hero last night for saving a suicidal man’s life.
The TalkRadio host kept the caller on the phone after he revealed live on air he had taken an overdose.
As he remained with him on the line, his radio producers called the police on Wednesday night.
Comedian Iain, 45, spent 30 minutes chatting to “Chris” who told him he was lying in the street dying near Revolution nightclub in Plymouth.
He gradually got enough details to work out where the man, in his 50s, was and helped the emergency services find him.
Iain, who was in the Jungle last year, told him: “Chris? Stay with me man. Stay with me brother!”
The call came in a segment about mental health problems. Iain himself has battled depression and last month revealed coming off anti-depressants had left him feeling suicidal.
Hope
The DJ wrote yesterday: “We managed to keep him online, get a description, work out where he was and send an ambulance and police to him.
“Kept him on the phone while he got harder to understand.
“Long periods of silence where I thought he’d died. F***, that was intense and upsetting. I really hope he makes it.”
He added: “I’m a bit stunned. Actually more than a bit. Don’t be alone. The Samaritans can help.”
Insp Kevin Morley thanked Iain, saying: “December is a hard month for many. We will do our best to direct him to long-term support.”
Fans flocked to social media to praise the DJ last night.
One wrote: “You saved his life, any other radio host would have hung up, you stayed with him AND did everything you could.”
Another said: “You showed amazing courage. You are an incredible human being.”
If you need someone to talk to call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
The Star Says: Page 6 A TOP barrister claimed legal aid cuts left him living “hand-to-mouth for 18 months”.
Timothy Raggatt QC said “Government cuts to legal aid” left him unable even to pay the tax bill on his six-figure income on time.
The barrister claimed he had been caught in “a perfect storm” by the cuts, a costly divorce and his bank questioning his £200,000 overdraft.
And he said it was “unreasonably harsh” of Revenue and Customs to hit him with £13,000 in fines for failing to meet tax deadlines.
The QC appealed against the penalties at an Upper Tribunal hearing. But, despite expressing “considerable sympathy”, Judge Timothy Herrington refused to accept Mr Raggatt had a “reasonable excuse” and dismissed his claim.