Man dies after jumping from Dartford Bridge

6:26pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in News By Matt Abbott

A MAN has died after jumping from the Dartford Bridge.

The 42-year-old, thought to be from Buckinghamshire, pulled over in his car while on the bridge at around 11am this morning.

He climbed over the safety barrier and stood on the edge of the crossing, threatening to jump.

Trained negotiators spent several hours trying to convince the man not to jump, but at 3pm he walked to the apex of the bridge and launched himself off.

A lifeboat rescued the man before he was rushed to Darenth Valley hospital in Kent, where he later died.

A post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow (Monday).

The bridge closed at 11am causing traffic chaos in the area. There were reports of three-hour delays as motorists were diverted into the tunnels as they travelled clockwise on the M25, with queues stretching back to junction 29 for the A127.

A broken down lorry on the M25, anti-clockwise approaching the tunnel, worsened delays.

At 6pm, police were set to reopen the bridge.

Comments(19)

gazette reader says...
8:26pm Sun 10 Mar 13

so terribly sad for this poor man who must have felt so bad that this was his only option, may he r.i.p. and condolences to his famiy.

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Bodoftheglen says...
9:05pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Those poor people sitting in traffic. If you are going to top yourself do it somewhere like the cliffs

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mpgrays says...
9:21pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Or whisky and paracetamol, why does every person who wants to top their self, choose to do it when they can pi$$ everyone else off? Do it at midnight when no one is around!

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DannyButcher says...
1:08am Mon 11 Mar 13

So you people (not gazette reader) are more interested in a minor inconvenience than a person who feels bad enough to take his own life? So what if you have to spend a few hours in traffic, when you get home you continue your life as normal.

This guy has ended his life in a fashion that should only cause inconvenience and not harm to others doing something like jumping in traffic/under a train.. I think some perspective is required.

We can never really know how desolate he was feeling, but at least now he is at peace.

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Movingon36 says...
9:04am Mon 11 Mar 13

When someone chooses to die, I doubt anything else enters their mind, in a way it's a sense of relief that they have found an option. For him to come to that decision, he must have seen it as his only option, let's hope none of the people writing such negative comments ever find themselves in his situation. Rip.

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grays_mum says...
10:56am Mon 11 Mar 13

what a shocking lack of empathy from Bod and MP. I admit I'd have been pretty cross at being stuck in traffic but would never think about being so cold-hearted about somebody in obvious distress. Where is your compassion? Good lord!

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Thurrockbob says...
11:03am Mon 11 Mar 13

My condolences to all his family and loved ones.
He however was a selfish pranet, and should have done it in private.

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Bodoftheglen says...
11:15am Mon 11 Mar 13

I have no compassion for those who waste the gift of life. What is ever so bad that you must take your own life ?

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grays_mum says...
6:35pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Let's hope you never have to find out

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DannyButcher says...
9:00pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Bodoftheglen wrote:
I have no compassion for those who waste the gift of life. What is ever so bad that you must take your own life ?
I love your ignorant arrogance.

Just because you cannot understand something, or have never experienced that situation, it doesn't mean people don't suffer enough to want to take their own life, from whatever source that suffering may be.

There's being pragmatic about things, then there's just being an a-hole for the sake of it, and you clearly fall into the latter.

As grays_mum said, let's hope that you never have to find out why people feel the need to take their own lives, because right now you seem to be happily ensconced in your own world.

I don't understood why people feel the need to be so callous online, especially on an article about someone who has taken their own life. Do you not understand Bod, that people have family, and your pathetic comments may actually upset people still alive and grieving the loss of a loved one? Or do you think making puerile, obnoxious comments is needed at this point?

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aberline 88 says...
3:41pm Wed 13 Mar 13

i have no sympathy for the man, he was weak and a coward and inconsiderate, causing thousands of people to be put out of their way and some poor sod had to pull the body from the water, i speak my mind, so if i have upset anyone, well you know, b******S

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Make Thurrock Better says...
4:44pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Some of the negative comments on here are a perfect demonstration of exactly what leads people to take thier own lives. They have problems and feel that the world around them doesn't notice and doesn't care. My God you even judge a desperate person for their suicide. Don't you see that's part of the problem??

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hugh jars says...
11:05am Fri 15 Mar 13

Bodoftheglen wrote:
Those poor people sitting in traffic. If you are going to top yourself do it somewhere like the cliffs
Are you serious! Sure he was thinking about where to kill himself in his state of mind. Essex mentality I am afraid, moronic!!!

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hugh jars says...
11:08am Fri 15 Mar 13

Bodoftheglen wrote:
I have no compassion for those who waste the gift of life. What is ever so bad that you must take your own life ?
Let's hope you never get like that. Ever been skint, no. Ever had a life threatening illness, no.Been behind with bills, no. Must be nice to be perfect. Get a life idiot

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hugh jars says...
11:11am Fri 15 Mar 13

aberline 88 wrote:
i have no sympathy for the man, he was weak and a coward and inconsiderate, causing thousands of people to be put out of their way and some poor sod had to pull the body from the water, i speak my mind, so if i have upset anyone, well you know, b******S
What a total t..t. Then again, you are an Essex numbnut

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Bodoftheglen says...
1:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Iv been in debt iv had issues drink drugs iv been depressed an iv worked thro them for my family so don't get all touchy feely over it. All I. Meant was if your going to top yourself no need to ruin everyones day by doing so.

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Tokka1 says...
8:50pm Fri 15 Mar 13

hugh jars wrote:
aberline 88 wrote:
i have no sympathy for the man, he was weak and a coward and inconsiderate, causing thousands of people to be put out of their way and some poor sod had to pull the body from the water, i speak my mind, so if i have upset anyone, well you know, b******S
What a total t..t. Then again, you are an Essex numbnut
Hugh Jars, although I agree and disagree with some views on here, and am not here to voice my opinion against this poor man, but have you got something against Essex people by any chance? Essex mentality? Idiot, Essex numbnut? There really is no need is there! People are entitled to their own opinion as you are, but there is no need to use this terminology is there.

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aberline 88 says...
3:03pm Sun 17 Mar 13

hugh jars wrote:
aberline 88 wrote:
i have no sympathy for the man, he was weak and a coward and inconsiderate, causing thousands of people to be put out of their way and some poor sod had to pull the body from the water, i speak my mind, so if i have upset anyone, well you know, b******S
What a total t..t. Then again, you are an Essex numbnut
thank you for your comment it was refreshingly delightfull, i have been suffering with insomnia latley so i shall read your words before i retire to bed, hugh jars eh? you must of hired a pr company to help choose that name, how unique and utterly charming it is, i see your in advanced stages of sexual frustration then, may i recomend a visit to your gp, there really is nothing to be ashamed of.

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aberline 88 says...
3:05pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Tokka1 wrote:
hugh jars wrote:
aberline 88 wrote:
i have no sympathy for the man, he was weak and a coward and inconsiderate, causing thousands of people to be put out of their way and some poor sod had to pull the body from the water, i speak my mind, so if i have upset anyone, well you know, b******S
What a total t..t. Then again, you are an Essex numbnut
Hugh Jars, although I agree and disagree with some views on here, and am not here to voice my opinion against this poor man, but have you got something against Essex people by any chance? Essex mentality? Idiot, Essex numbnut? There really is no need is there! People are entitled to their own opinion as you are, but there is no need to use this terminology is there.
thank you kind sir

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