I recently had a situation like this. Got some food delivered and before I got into the kitchen with the stuff the driver had come back banging on the door. Driver was completely in panic because down the street my neighbour was sitting on the ledge of his first floor window with a noose ready to jump.

I told the driver to contact 999 and ran down to speak to the guy. Started chatting about how his life was a disaster and he could bare it anymore, he just wanted the suffering to stop. Convinced him to let me come into the house and chat with him through the window. Was close enough to grab him if he took the jump, but managed to talk him around to climb back in and chat. Just before then I could see the lights from the police and I don't think I've ever had as much relief before. Managed to get him in and the police took over until an ambulance came to take him to A&E for a crisis assessment.

Police get a lot of crap in the media, but it's situations like that where you realize they're worth every penny. That lad is now having another Christmas today because of everyone involved and his family are getting to spend it with him rather than without.