The moment a vulnerable man was told to “hurry up” when he threatened to take his own life has been caught on camera. The unidentified man was standing on a roof in Brierley Hill town centre when he was spotted standing at the top of a building with a makeshift noose tied around his neck.
As police were called to the scene a crowd gathered and, sickeningly, some of the bystanders began to goad the distressed man into taking his own life.
Neil Arrowsmith, 41, captured the shocking scenes and told the Mirror: “There were lots of people just watching him. There were a few people saying do it and hurry up and nasty stuff like that.
“It was quite shocking really. It is not right. It was very nice at all. The guy was being held up by the police and you have people saying that.
“It might sound like me in the footage but it isn't, people were standing by me outside the pub shouting at him. Thankfully, he got down in the end. It could have been a lot different though.”
As police negotiators coaxed the man away from the edge, some people booed.
Nicky Woodrow, who also witnessed the terrible scenes, added: “It seems the norm to take pictures of people in distress and situations of great sadness.
“It's disgusting. The poor man needed help, which hopefully he has by now.”