Bondi Rescue (idk the title yet)

Ben Buckler

TW suicide attempt please skip if you are uncomfortable with this chapter

I was sitting down north corner, with yatesy and we were having a chat about me living in Bondi when I got a pretty disturbing call through the radio.

*central to north buggy, there has been a call about a lady on the edge of ben buckler, would one of you go up there and see what's going on please.. some are saying she's in distress* I heard Reidy's voice came through.

*yeah copy I'll head up there now* I radioed back. "I'm going to go, don't mind do you?" I asked Yatesy. "Yeah no worries ill keep an eye on the water, just keep in contact." I nodded and headed up towards the boat ramp. As I walked up Ben buckler as quickly as I could. Headed across the grass, towards the cliff edge. And there was woman, standing against the edge, she seemed to be crying quite a bit. And I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I picked up my radio before I got closer. *hey boys, she's crying, and on the edge of the cliff, maybe call an ambulance or the police I'm not sure. Im going to turn down the radio so it doesn't startle her ok? Maybe someone else could come to help just in case* all I heard was copy before turning down the radio and putting back on my belt.

And then I edged towards the woman. "Hey there, are you ok?" I asked. She startled as she whipped her head towards me. "Stay away from me!" She yelled. "Hey im sorry, I won't come any closer. But please move away from the edge." "No go away im doing this, I just need time." She looked over the edge. "Please . Just talk to me what's going on?" I asked gently. "Why? whats the point? Nothing matters anymore. I need to do this." She replied. "Tell me... tell me why do you need to do this?" I ask.. I don't know what else to do. How do I stop this.? Think Caitlin. "Go away." "See I'm not going anywhere until you're safe." She stared at me. "What? Don't act like you care you don't even know me?" She whispered. "Just because I don't know you, doesn't mean I don't know how this feels..." I pointed to her and the cliffs. "I've been there, where it feels like nothing matters, like this is the only way. I promise it's not." I said. "You don't know what this is, you don't know what's going on?" "So tell me." "Why" "you see this blue uniform? You see my face? It means I care, whatever you're feeling I'm listening. I'm here." I told her. "My best friend, he's gone, he's the only one I had to protect me from- from him." She sobbed harder. "I'm so sorry you lost him... who was he protecting you from?" I asked. Trying to keep her talking. As I edged closer whilst she was watching the ocean. "My dad." My heart sunk. "Tell me, tell me about him." "He hurts me, he's not very nice. And now my best friends gone there is no other option, im so tired, I just want to join him so he can protect me again." She finished. "Listen to me, I know exactly what you are feeling, I went through the same thing, but I had my brother, but he couldn't help, and look im still here I got help. There are so many people who can help you." I edged a little bit closer I wasn't that far now. "Nobody will help, nobody see's what he's like. I've lost too many people. People who tried to help me." She pleaded. "This is the only option." "I promise you it Is not. I see you, and I can see how much pain you are in ok. We can get you help, if you only step away from the cliff edge."

She whipped her head round and shouted "no get away back aw-ahh" and at that moment she slipped down. I jumped onto the ground and caught her arm. I was hanging half on the cliff half off. "Shit... I've got you. I've got you." She was screaming and her body was frantic. "Please keep still please stop thrashing around." I begged as I felt my body slipping. Her face full of fear as she felt the reality of the situation. It looked as if she was in shock. She was frantic. "Please please." She pleaded. She does't want to die, she wants help, she needs help. And at that point so did I. I tried to pull her up but I was not strong enough. I held onto her as tight as I could. It was then I decided to try and reach my radio on my belt. After a few seconds, I grabbed it.

Jake's POV

I was heading over to the tower, for my shift change, when my radio echoed Caitlin voice.

*help I need help now, holding my patient over the cliff help now*

I ran to the buggy. And Whip jumped in next to me. I had Corey on the back leaving Jesse in the tower.

*Caitlin the boys are coming*

We bolted down the beach and towards ben buckler.

*Boys im coming to the tower* Hoppo's voice echoed down the radio, he was in his office,

Caitlins POV

I'd thrown my radio back onto the cliff, still hanging onto this girl, "please please don't let go." "I won't I promise just keep still." I told her. Within a few minutes I heard the familiar sound of the buggy pulling up behind.

"Help , I'm here boys hurry!" I yelled. Suddenly there a pair of hands on my legs. "Its ok ive got you." The sound of Jakes voice was like heaven and I felt I could relax a little bit. "Please move quick. I can't hold her much longer." And it was true I was so tired. "Ok Caitlin Jake's to try and pull you up a bit so it lifts the lady up a little, so we can reach her." Corey said. "It's ok we've got you, your ok." Whippet reassured the poor girl. "Ok Jake are you ready?" Jake started to pull me back, and I yelled out in pain. But the boys managed to grab the girl and we all were back up safely. I layed back onto my back, placing my arms over my head and breathed. knowing she was safe. And I didn't drop her.

Jake's Pov

Caitlin just fell onto her back, and Whippet was with the girl. Who was crying understandably. I knelt down to Caitlin, "are you ok?" She just put her thumbs up and sat up. By this point Police and Paramedics were walking up to us. Caitlin stood up, and headed over to patient. Corey briefed the paramedics.

Caitlin's POV

I went over to the girl and sat with her. "Hey listen to me the people who are coming will help you, they are going to look after you. Tell them everything you told me and you will get through this." She just hugged me. "Thank you for not dropping me." "Hey its ok, I told you I'm here." "Thank you." The paramedics took her away and I grabbed my radio and jumped in the back of the buggy with Jake whilst Corey and Whippet took the front and we headed back to the tower. "Hey Jake, Cor im sorry for snapping at you this morning. I was just so so pissed off and I-" "Shut up donut you don't have to apologise silly you're allowed to be annoyed." Jake interrupted nudging me. "Yeah it's cool, don't stress about it. How are you doing that must've been heavy?" Corey added. "Yeah I'm fine, I just really thought she was going to jump, but she ended up slipping, I'm just glad I caught her, thank you for coming so quickly I was pretty scared." I sighed. Jake wrapped his arms around me. "You did great." He said I muttered a thank you, and stayed silent the rest of drive back.

---------------------------------------------

Bit of a more sad chapter but this will be a big character development in Caitlin's journey I think. It also shows the reality of some of the challenges people face, in reality. Note- I'm not a professional so if this is awful, please comment and tell me.

please seek help if you are feeling this way for more resources, there are suicide number online.

Stay safe