Bridge safety review after bereaved families' campaign

Measures to deter people from attempting to take their lives at one of the UK's most famous bridges are being reviewed after calls for change from bereaved families.

Lighting technician Teilo How passed away at Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge in January of this year, while 23-year-old Alex Elsmore died in similar circumstances in April 2018.

Their parents believe that if the bridge was slightly more difficult to access, it would have given the two men a minute to reconsider or allowed bystanders the chance to intervene.

A Clifton Suspension Bridge Trustees' spokesperson said a review of suicide deterrent arrangements is under way.

These include "previously considered" options that were judged to be unfeasible in the past, as well as new approaches.

The spokesperson also reiterated their "sincere condolences" to all those affected by suicide.

Alex's mother, Jo Bayly, said his family had "no indication at all" he was struggling. He was looking forward to the summer and a job he was due to begin after completing his studies, she added.

"It was just a complete utter bolt from the blue because he was much-loved, he had great friends, he loved us and he was very expressive young man and so it was just astonishing that he died.

"If he had momentary vulnerabilities, or I think his vulnerabilities would have been transient, and I think that he wouldn't have died at the bridge if he'd been able to talk to or encountered somebody on his approach," she said.

While measures introduced to the Grade I-listed structure in 1998 cut deaths by 50%, numbers since then have remained static and Ms Bayly does not believe they meet modern best practice standards.

She said higher barriers would make it harder for people to climb over quickly, allowing more time for bystanders to intervene.

Teilo's father Mark Cox, from Wiltshire, said his son had a life-long passion for dance, acting and the theatre and was building a career for himself as a lighting technician.

"When [Teilo] had struggles, he always was able to overcome them," Mr Cox said.

"He would have short, intense bursts of feeling like life wasn't worth living, but those would recede within a relatively short period of time."

Like Ms Bayly, Mr Cox believes that had the bridge been more difficult to access, it might have given people nearby time to engage with Teilo.

"Some people who have survived in other locations say human interaction - if somebody had just said 'hello' to them on the day - it would have made that difference to them in shaking them out of their reverie," he said.

David Gunnell, a retired professor in epidemiology who previously worked at the University of Bristol, researched ways to prevent and understand the causes of suicide for 30 years.

Following research of the patterns of suicide deaths from Clifton Suspension Bridge in the 1990s, barriers were put up in 1998.

The professor said the number of deaths had been "relatively" static for 20 years since.

He added: "I'd like to be confident that the Bridge Trustees had explored every possible angle on top of what they've done already to make it even safer.

"Every death by suicide is an absolute tragedy, not only for the person concerned, but for friends, for family, for relatives."

A representative of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trustees said they have significant suicide deterrence measures in place including physical deterrents, technological aides and human intervention.

They said physical deterrents were looked at "in detail" in 2017 and 2019, concluding there were "no feasible options" and instead focused on improving monitoring tools like CCTV and thermal imaging, as well as the number of bridge attendants on shift overnight.

"We also have an early warning system in place with the police, where they can alert us to any vulnerable person who may be contemplating suicide," they said.

"Unfortunately, we cannot always get to someone in time, and we are deeply sorry that this."

Anne Travis, deputy director of Bristol Samaritans, said that bystanders concerned about someone's safety and wanting to help could "invite them just to talk" and "listen really carefully to what they are saying".

"Maybe encourage them to walk somewhere with you," she added.

"It can be easier to talk with somebody if you're just walking side by side."

She also encouraged people to check in on family members or friends they may be concerned about, and emphasised that the Samaritans helpline was available 24/7.

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