When the news ends up on your doorstep: A first-hand account of a man in trouble
It’s not often that news literally ends up on your doorstep, but that’s what happened at My Edmonds News headquarters on the shores of Lake Ballinger Wednesday morning.
I was working at the computer around 9:45 a.m. when I heard a loud noise outside the front door. I looked through the window to investigate and saw a young man laying on the porch, obviously in some distress with his hand over his heart. I was hesitant to unlock the door so said loudly to him, “Do you need medical attention. Do you want me to call 911?” The young man responded with a weak nod of his head so I called the 911 dispatcher, who kept me on the line while she was in touch with police and fire emergency personnel.
The dispatcher then asked me to go back to the man and describe his condition. Upon closer observation, I could see that he wasn’t wearing shoes, and that his socks and his hair looked very wet. I told the dispatcher it looked like he may have been in the lake. I also told her that he was shivering so she suggested I cover him with a blanket if I was comfortable opening the door.
After I put a blanket over him, the dispatcher asked me to inquire about where he came from and what his situation was. I had her on speakerphone so she could hear his answers, and together we heard him say that he had injuries. He then showed me several deep scratches on his left arm and lifted his shirt to reveal a puncture wound in his chest. Upon further questioning, he told both of us that the wounds were self-inflicted and that he had tried to commit suicide by drowning himself. None of the wounds looked very deep, nor did they appear life-threatening. The man did give his name and age, which was 22. He said he lived in a house in Mountlake Terrace, but wouldn’t provide the exact address.
Shortly after that information was shared, police and medic personnel arrived and they were able to get the man into a wheelchair and transfer him to the waiting aid car. Edmonds police confirmed that the man was taken to Swedish/Edmonds Hospital. Mountlake Terrace police are investigating, and we will provide more details as they become available.
– Teresa Wippel, publisher
Wow, Teresa… how scary… and sad too. I hope he gets some help and is ok. Hope you are not too shaken up, that would be really unnerving to have land on your porch.
–Teresa, your life is anything but dull these days!
You handled the situation with humanity and, under the circumstances, courage, Teresa. I hope you’re able to report soon that the young man is getting the help he needs.