Mumbai: Days after Powai police foiled a suicide attempt by a British national on June 27, the British Consulate has appreciated police’s efforts. Police said on June 27, Sam Collard (61), told his wife, who is in Sydney, he is about to end his life, who immediately alerted the authorities in Mumbai. Police rushed to his house and persuaded him not to take the extreme step.
Police said 10am on June 27, they received a call from the British consulate, alerting them of Collard wanting to commit suicide. A Powai police team reached Torano building near Hiranandani and approached Collard on the 21st floor. When he refused to open the door, they went to the adjacent building, Avalon and initially tried to draw his attention from the same level. They couldn’t see anything through Collard’s windows. They went to the 33rd floor of Avalon building and called out to Collard. “We told him your wife has sent us and please don’t do anything wrong, open the door and let us in,” said a cop. He was finally convinced and obeyed.
The cops went inside and talked to Collard. He told them he works for a US-based firm at Andheri (E) and stayed alone. He was undergoing treatment for the paralysis ailment at LH Hiranandani and had recently suffered a stroke. “Collard said he was depressed as the medication was not effective anymore. A frustrated Collard told his wife in Sydney he was about to commit suicide. His wife alerted the British consulate who reached out to us in time and we successfully foiled his suicide bid,” said Anil Pophale, a senior inspector of Powai police station. On Thursday, the British Consulate visited Powai police station and thanked the cops who helped foil Collard's suicide attempt.