Post by The Collector on Sept 22, 2006 13:04:38 GMT
TV LIONEL STOPS PIER DEATH FALL
By Rory Smith
SHOWBIZ legend Lionel Blair and camp comic Alan Carr talked a man out of jumping to death.
Veteran dancer Blair was filming the pilot episode of Carr's End-of-the-Pier show when they heard about the suicide bid yards away at the end of Blackpool's North Pier.
Both stars rushed to help and found him hanging above the raging sea.
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Shocked Lionel, 74, said: "It really scared me - I've never experienced anything like that before.
"We spent about 10 minutes talking to him. He just kept saying he wanted to end it all.
"Then someone said it was Lionel Blair from TV and he did a double take.
"I reached out, then he grabbed both our arms and we heaved him up."
Friday Night Project star Carr thought it was a wind-up at first.
He explained: "We'd finished filming the show and I thought someone was taking the mickey.
"But when we got to the real end of the pier it was really scary. He was hanging by his fingers and saying 'I don't want to live' ".
By Rory Smith
SHOWBIZ legend Lionel Blair and camp comic Alan Carr talked a man out of jumping to death.
Veteran dancer Blair was filming the pilot episode of Carr's End-of-the-Pier show when they heard about the suicide bid yards away at the end of Blackpool's North Pier.
Both stars rushed to help and found him hanging above the raging sea.
Advertisement
Shocked Lionel, 74, said: "It really scared me - I've never experienced anything like that before.
"We spent about 10 minutes talking to him. He just kept saying he wanted to end it all.
"Then someone said it was Lionel Blair from TV and he did a double take.
"I reached out, then he grabbed both our arms and we heaved him up."
Friday Night Project star Carr thought it was a wind-up at first.
He explained: "We'd finished filming the show and I thought someone was taking the mickey.
"But when we got to the real end of the pier it was really scary. He was hanging by his fingers and saying 'I don't want to live' ".
