Jonny Benjamin reunited with stranger who saved him from Thames jump after Twitter #findmike campaign

 
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Robin de Peyer30 January 2014

A man who was stopped from jumping into the River Thames has been reunited with the passer-by who talked him down from the ledge after a social media campaign went viral.

Jonny Benjamin, 26, was stopped in his attempted suicide bid by a stranger known only as Mike, who approached him and offered to take him for a coffee as he teetered on the ledge of Waterloo Bridge six years ago.

Mr Benjamin said he had lost hope of a normal life after being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at the age of 20.

Years later the videoblogger and ambassador for mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness launched an an appeal using the #findmike hashtag to try to track down the Good Samaritan to thank him - only to find out he is called Neil.

After the appeal went viral online around the world, it was spotted by the fiancé of Neil Laybourn from Surrey, who duly relayed the story to her partner.

Mr Laybourn, a personal trainer, got in touch and immediately knew he was the man for whom Mr Benjamin had been searching.

“Gave me hope”: Jonny Benjamin

He said after the reunion: "I was so pleased to see how well Jonny was doing, I had thought about him over the years and had always hoped he was OK.

"When we met, it was clear how much that encounter on the bridge meant to Jonny, he told me it was a pivotal moment in his life – which was great to hear. I didn’t feel it was that big a deal, I did what anyone would do. I wasn't trying to fix his problems that day, I just listened."

The pair, who are now set for a series of television appearances together after their story captured the nation's imagination, say they will now stay in touch.

Mr Benjamin added: "I feel like I’ve won the lottery – I’m totally elated. It means the world to me to finally have the opportunity to say thank you.

"That day on the bridge my life hit rock bottom, but meeting Neil, I felt so happy, it couldn’t be more of a contrast. He’s such a warm, genuine person – everyone should have a friend like Neil."

Mr Benjamin is now planning to make a documentary about his journey after saying that being reunited means that "chapter of my life has now closed."

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