'He is a real life hero': Jazz Thornton's call to help her find the man who saved her life

The mental health campaigner wants to thank the man who saved her in a moment of crisis. Photo / File

Warning: This article is about attempted suicide and may be distressing for some readers.

The co-founder of a pioneering mental health charity has put a call out on social media to help her find the stranger who saved her in one of her darkest moments.

Jazz Thornton, the global mental health advocate, TV director, author and co-founder of Voices of Hope, posted on Twitter that she'd unsuccessfully tried to find the man by other means.

"Twitter, I need your help to find the man who saved my life: A thread," she began.

"In 2015 I attempted to take my life multiple times. One of those times, I went into a forest and began the process. I didn't tell anyone where I was or what I was doing as I was determined for it to work."

But as she slipped into unconsciousness, a man and his son, by chance, found her and called an ambulance.

"I ended up in a coma. When I woke up the doctors said that any longer and I would not have survived," she wrote.

Due to legal precautions, she was unable to name the exact location, but it was in the area of St Lukes on June 6, 2015, she wrote.

"I want to thank this man but I don't know who he is.

"I want him to know that I not only survived, but I fought and now help others for a living. He is a real life hero."

In 2015 I attempted to take my life multiple times. One of those times, I went into a forest and began the process. I didn’t tell anyone where I was or what I was doing as I was determined for it to work.

— Jazz Thornton (@Jazzthornton_) July 2, 2020

It’s 2020 now and I am a global mental health advocate, TV director and now, author. I want to thank this man but I don’t know who he is. Due to legal precautions in NZ, I can’t name the exact location, but it was in the area of St Lukes in Auckland - 6/06/2015

— Jazz Thornton (@Jazzthornton_) July 2, 2020

I have tried other means to find this man but haven’t been able to thus far. Twitter, do your thing and help me find this man. I want him to know that I not only survived, but I fought and now help others for a living. He is a real life hero.

— Jazz Thornton (@Jazzthornton_) July 2, 2020

Thornton's remarkable story is told in her first book, Stop surviving, start fighting, which was published in March.

In May this year the mental health advocate returned to the spot where she'd tried to take her life five years earlier.

There she placed a sign, for anyone else in crisis.

"Please don't take your life today. The world is better with you in it," it read.

View this post on Instagram

TW ‼️ Talk of a Suicide attempt. Today Gen & I went and put this sign in the location where I had my final suicide attempt. It was emotional but I felt so incredibly thankful. I hadn’t been back there since, but this location is close to where I have a lot of meetings so I would see it often from my car. It always left me with a sick and almost guilty feeling & so today I decided to go and change the memory I have there into a hope one. The girl who once stood here all those years ago was broken, unwell and couldn’t see any way out. She was certain that the world was better without her. Little did she know that one day she would wake up excited for life. That she would know purpose, love and community. That one day the very thing that nearly claimed her life would be the thing she would use to help change the world. No matter how dark it feels right now, there is always hope. You’re story isn’t over yet. Please don’t take your life today. The world is better with you in it ❤️ #mentalhealth

A post shared by Jazz Thornton (@jazzthornton) on May 20, 2020 at 6:57pm PDT

She returned to that place to change the memory it held into one of hope, she posted online.

"The girl who once stood here all those years ago was broken, unwell and couldn't see any way out. She was certain that the world was better without her.

"Little did she know that one day she would wake up excited for life. That she would know purpose, love and community.

"That one day the very thing that nearly claimed her life would be the thing she would use to help change the world.

"No matter how dark it feels right now, there is always hope."

Where to get help:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)

• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)

• Youthline: 0800 376 633

• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)

• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)

• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)

• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

• Samaritans: 0800 726 666

• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.