Radio host Iain Lee has said the support he has received after he was credited with saving a man’s life earlier this week has been “overwhelming”.
Lee, who appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year, was praised for keeping a suicidal caller on the line during his radio programme for 30 minutes until an ambulance arrived.
The man, whose name was only given as Chris, called into Lee’s talkRadio show on Wednesday and said he had taken an overdose after suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last two days I've had people coming up to me, thanking me and shaking my hand. Found it all a bit overwhelming. Just had to have a little cry in the supermarket. People can be so lovely.
— Iain Lee – talkRADIO (@iainlee) December 23, 2018
The broadcaster asked Chris, who said he was nearly 60, a series of questions to work out where he was in order for the emergency services to locate him.
Lee has now shared his appreciation for the reaction from members of the public following the on-air incident.
He tweeted: “Last two days I’ve had people coming up to me, thanking me and shaking my hand. Found it all a bit overwhelming.
“Just had to have a little cry in the supermarket. People can be so lovely.”
During the exchange on his Late Night Alternative show earlier this week, Lee told the man that he loves him and he deserves “better than this”.
“I guarantee that whatever has happened, it can be sorted out.
“It might not be easy, but it can be sorted, I promise you. It is better than you doing this.”
After nearly 30 minutes, a police officer came on to the line and told Lee they had found the man in Plymouth. The DJ broke down at the news.
Tonight we took a call from a man who had taken an overdose. He was lying in a street in Plymouth, dying. We managed to keep him online, get a description of what he looked like and was wearing, work out where he was and send an ambulance and police to him. Kept him on the phone
— Iain Lee – talkRADIO (@iainlee) December 20, 2018
Following the incident, Lee tweeted: “Tonight we took a call from a man who had taken an overdose. He was lying in a street in Plymouth, dying.
“We managed to keep him online, get a description of what he looked like and was wearing, work out where he was, and send an ambulance and police to him. Kept him on the phone for 30 minutes while he got harder to understand.
“Long periods of silence where I thought he’d died. F***, that was intense and upsetting. Thanks for your kind words. I really hope he makes it.”
If you are experiencing difficulties, you can contact Samaritans UK on 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org.