A man in distress ended a 999 call with ‘forget it’ before a tragic fall into the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester: A heartbreaking story unfolded when Andrew Heys, a 29-year-old from Salford, dialed 999 in a moment of desperation. Just minutes later, he tragically fell into the Manchester Ship Canal.
Before his fall, Andrew had a tough time. He struggled with severe reactions to a Covid booster shot and faced a life-altering autoimmune disease. His mental health took a hit, and he was relearning basic skills like speaking and walking.
On the night of March 12, 2024, Andrew left his flat after spending time with his mom. He called for help in the early hours but ended the call with the doctor, saying “forget it.” CCTV footage later showed him climbing over a bridge guardrail.
His body was discovered three days later. A counseling manager revealed that Andrew had visited the spot the day before but couldn’t go through with it. He had expressed his feelings of hopelessness during their conversations.
During the inquest, it was revealed that the doctor on the line didn’t catch everything Andrew said due to a poor connection. She thought he didn’t want help anymore, which led to a tragic misunderstanding.
Andrew entered the water shortly after the call ended. The average ambulance response time for urgent cases was around 45 minutes at that time. The coroner noted that there wasn’t enough evidence to conclude it was suicide or an accident.
In the end, the coroner recorded an open conclusion, highlighting the sad circumstances that led to Andrew’s death. It’s a tragic reminder of how mental health struggles can lead to desperate situations.
