Plymouth hero dies after sacrificing self to save suicide teen

A British man has died after desperately trying to save a student who was trying to take his own life.

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by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

Thomas Bennet, 24, was at a party at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu when a 19-year-old man attempted to jump out the window on the 14th floor.

Climbing out onto a ledge to try and rescue the teen, it seems Bennet misjudged the move and both men fell to the ground.

Thomas died as a result of the fall, while the unnamed 19-year-old is still in a critical condition.

#TBT...This was only four months ago. I got him bad the first time, but he wanted another go at it. And he got me back.... > >

Posted by [Ted ThePoet](https://www.facebook.com/teddy.guillory) on [Thursday, September 10, 2015](https://www.facebook.com/teddy.guillory/videos/707432379388538/)

Friend Ted Guillory said: ‘Tommy cared about and loved a lot of people in his life, and he proved to me that night that he cared about other people more than he even cared about himself.’

The construction worker, who was originally from Plymouth, moved to Hawaii three years ago after 14 years living in Philadelphia, US.

His family have said they are ‘immensely proud’ of Thomas’s actions immediately before his death; and that he put another’s wellbeing above his own.

The student who remains in hospital is said to be recovering from serious injuries, which include two broken legs, a broken arm, a collapsed lung, a partially broken back and internal bleeding.

After his death, Ted paid tribute to his friend on Facebook, writing a heartfelt message to his lost pal, alongside a video of them wrestling.

‘This was only four months ago. Back then I had an image in my mind of all of us still being good friends in our later years. At each other's weddings. Tommy could have even been my best man.

This was only four months ago...

Take me back to when I could still laugh with Tommy.

I'm miserable without you, bro.

Crying as I watch this.

#‎LongLiveTommy’

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