Hand of hope

A customer has described how Stockport driver Anne-Marie Pollard-Vearnals came to her aid in her darkest hour – by talking her down from a motorway bridge.

Anne-Marie had just begun her usual Sunday night shift and was headed up to Manchester Distribution Centre when she saw a pair of legs dangling over the edge of the bridge.

Play the video above to find out more. Warning, it contains content that might be difficult for some to watch. 

‘Instantly, my stomach dropped,’ said Anne-Marie, who turned her truck around and began talking to the young woman. ‘I just started speaking, telling her a bit about me and life,’ she added. ‘I didn’t know what had gone on to take her to that point. All I knew was it wasn’t a safe place to be.’

Anne-Marie said she could relate to the lady’s struggles, having had her own mental health difficulties. ‘When I had my first child, it was a very scary, lonely place to be,’ she said.

‘For me, the best thing is just talking. I’ve got no counselling training, but I’m happy to talk to people, happy to listen, to be there.’

After their conversation, the woman promised to stay ‘just a little longer’. Anne-Marie alerted the police who were able to coax the woman down and Anne-Marie then continued with her shift.

The customer later got in touch via an anonymous ops compliment, thanking Anne-Marie and saying she was seeking professional help.

‘Things will always be tricky,’ the message read. ‘[But] having people who care about a stranger in the world was a hand of hope.’