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Dublin: 14 °C Thursday 7 November, 2024

This uplifting Humans of Dublin photo comes with the most incredible story

What started out as a trip to the shop took a very different turn for Jamie Harrington.

Same page, new outfit! Thank you to DMC for the Facebook / Humans of Dublin Facebook / Humans of Dublin / Humans of Dublin

THE HUMANS OF DUBLIN photography project, set up by Peter Varga, often shares sad, inspiring, and heart-melting stories to go with the beautiful photos.

The latest story to go viral on Facebook comes from Jamie Harrington, who Varga photographed on Abbey Street in the city.

Harrington shared this astonishing story with the photographer:

I was just on my way to the American sweet shop to buy some Gatorade when I saw this guy in his 30s sitting on the ledge of the bridge. I just thought “Wow…” I stopped and asked him if he was OK, but I knew from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t, and he didn’t say anything either, but I saw tears coming from his eyes.

I was just on my way to the American sweet shop Facebook / Humans of Dublin Facebook / Humans of Dublin / Humans of Dublin

I pleaded with him for a while to come down and sit on the steps, and eventually he did. We sat on the sidewalk on the south side of the Liffey and talked for about 45 minutes, about what was happening to him, why he was feeling that way… I couldn’t leave him there alone, but I had to go, so I was going to ring an ambulance. I told him they could help him feel better.

Harrington said that despite the man’s protests, he called an ambulance, and the man was taken to St James’ Hospital. Harrington got his mobile phone number so they could keep in touch:

About three months ago, he texted me that his wife is pregnant, they’re having a boy, and they’re naming him after me. Can you believe that? He said that in the moment that I approached him, he was about to jump, and those few words saved his life. And they’re still ringing in his head every day, “Are you OK?” I can’t really understand how these few words could save his life, but he told me, “Imagine if nobody ever asked you those words…”

Harrington’s story has been liked and shared thousands of times, with many people praising him for stopping to ask that simple question.

“If only someone said that to my little sister, I wonder how life would be now,” one wrote.

Like the Humans of Dublin page here.

Photo republished from Humans of Dublin with permission

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Author
Valerie Loftus
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