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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Luke Traynor

Driver stops car and cuddles woman for an hour after realising she was about to kill herself

A Good Samaritan saved the life of a woman who was considering taking her own life on a Merseyside bridge.

Rosie Jafrate came across the frightened woman as she was driving home from work, spotting her as she travelled across the bridge in Wirral.

Rosie, 24, then spent a whole hour "cuddling" the woman, who was in her 20s, and gaining her trust.

She noticed the woman was visibly shaking and looked in need of immediate help.

Rosie, from Wallasey, said: "I wondered if she was just nervous, but it didn’t look right and so I stopped the car and got out.

"It was an instinctive reaction.

“When she saw me, she ran for a wall which prevents people from the drop.

"I then knew she was contemplating suicide.

"It’s a high wall and so I sprinted and grabbed her.

"I then just held her and gave her reassurance.”

Rosie works for Merseyside Community Rehabilitation Company(MCRC) who provide rehabilitative services to people on probation or on licence from prison.

The Boundary Street employee, who works in Kirkdale, spotted a passing police car and flagged it down.

Rosie Jafrate, who saved a woman's life who was considering throwing herself off a bridge (handout)

Officers called for support and dispatched a mental health specialist who took over from Rose.

She said: "I was with the lady for an hour.

"My training meant I knew not to ask her a battery of questions because she was shaking uncontrollably and clearly in no fit state to be grilled about what she was doing.

"I took her name, address and age and then just cuddled her.

"I’m normally quite shy but helping was an unconscious decision.

"It illustrates the importance of not being afraid to take action if you ever think something doesn’t look right.”

Chris Edwards, MCRC’s chief executive, praised Rosie for her actions.

He said: “Probation staff are dedicated to supporting people to make positive changes to their lives and the role often includes helping those who are vulnerable and in need.

"Rosie’s quick thinking and her instinctive actions have saved a life.

"I am proud of what she has done.”

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