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8:50am Thursday 21st January 2010 in
A POPULAR Hampshire postman took his life by jumping off the Itchen Bridge, an inquest heard.
The body of 25-year-old Jamie Doidge was pulled from the River Itchen in the early hours of December 8.
Southampton Coroner's Court was told Mr Doidge had recently broken up with his boyfriend who had dropped him at Bursledon train station on the day he died.
But instead of catching a train home, the former Bridgemary Community School pupil booked in to a hotel room at the Premier Inn in Park Gate and wrote a letter to his family and friends apologising for taking his own life.
He then caught the train to Woolston in Southampton and walked to the Itchen Bridge before jumping to his death.
Pathologist Sanjay Jogai said a post mortem examination had shown Mr Doidge died from drowning.
Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict that Mr Doidge, of St Michael's Gardens, Fareham, took his own life.
Following his death, Mr Doidge's parents Angela and Chris, from Gosport, said he went "out of his way to help people" and loved music and dance.
They added that they wished he had been able to talk his problems through with somebody before the tragedy.
Comments(40)
stickymcglue
says...
9:17am Thu 21 Jan 10
colinpickford1
says...
9:47am Thu 21 Jan 10
stickymcglue wrote:You cant blame the bridge. Desperate people will always find the means to take their own lives. Its the one thing they feel they still have control over.
The itchen Bridge should have be fitted with barred railings years and years ago , they would preserve the view , yet save lives....
Brite Spark
says...
10:37am Thu 21 Jan 10
Big Mac
says...
11:45am Thu 21 Jan 10
Spokesman for the Animals wrote:You read it as it was written; what don't you understand?
Sorry did i read this right he spilt up with his boyfriend?
Lovebird
says...
11:48am Thu 21 Jan 10
Big Mac wrote:Thats exactly what I was thinking Big Mac.
Spokesman for the Animals wrote: Sorry did i read this right he spilt up with his boyfriend?You read it as it was written; what don't you understand?
cannonball
says...
11:58am Thu 21 Jan 10
Brite Spark wrote:Anyone else got any more info on this?
Wasn't this the night that people could hear someone's cries for help on the Woolston side of the Itchen, but the police persistently searched on the town side for some reason, despite bystanders telling them to look around the Vospers area?
soton-mike80
says...
12:08pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Brite Spark
says...
12:23pm Thu 21 Jan 10
cannonball wrote:Found it cannonball, the story I remembered was from way back in March, also happened at about 10 pm
Brite Spark wrote:Anyone else got any more info on this?
Wasn't this the night that people could hear someone's cries for help on the Woolston side of the Itchen, but the police persistently searched on the town side for some reason, despite bystanders telling them to look around the Vospers area?
Twisted Nipple
says...
1:18pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Ted Rogers
says...
1:26pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:It was probably removed as it was deemed as insensitive and irrelevant when compared to a sad loss of a young life.
Why was my post about the disruption suicides on that bridge cause for motorists removed? It was a valid point... when someone jumps off that bridge, it can be closed for hours, causing absolute chaos.
Spokesman for the Animals
says...
1:35pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple
says...
1:41pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Ted Rogers wrote:I was late for work this morning due to a traffic jam, if this happens much more then possibly I could get the sack... which would indeed be a life-changing disruption. I am sure there are other places which would suffice as suicide spots but wouldn't disrupt the lives of innocent members of the public.
Twisted Nipple wrote: Why was my post about the disruption suicides on that bridge cause for motorists removed? It was a valid point... when someone jumps off that bridge, it can be closed for hours, causing absolute chaos.It was probably removed as it was deemed as insensitive and irrelevant when compared to a sad loss of a young life. Pick a different story to comment upon the life changing disruption that being stuck in a traffic jam can cause.
Ted Rogers
says...
1:52pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:Maybe you should think about a little personal organisation and set off a little earlier for work; then the chances of it happening 'much more', would be less.
Ted Rogers wrote:I was late for work this morning due to a traffic jam, if this happens much more then possibly I could get the sack... which would indeed be a life-changing disruption. I am sure there are other places which would suffice as suicide spots but wouldn't disrupt the lives of innocent members of the public.Twisted Nipple wrote: Why was my post about the disruption suicides on that bridge cause for motorists removed? It was a valid point... when someone jumps off that bridge, it can be closed for hours, causing absolute chaos.It was probably removed as it was deemed as insensitive and irrelevant when compared to a sad loss of a young life. Pick a different story to comment upon the life changing disruption that being stuck in a traffic jam can cause.
S!mon
says...
1:58pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple
says...
2:02pm Thu 21 Jan 10
colinpickford1
says...
2:04pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple
says...
2:07pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Treble9
says...
2:08pm Thu 21 Jan 10
S!mon
says...
2:09pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:You only live 10mins car journey away and work in Southampton?
I set off for work 40 minutes for what should be a 10 minute drive. Are you seriously suggesting that I should set off even earlier? Surely this would be unreasonable.
Ted Rogers
says...
2:10pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:Too many cars on the road. A 10 minute car journey into town is probably a forty minute walk max.
I set off for work 40 minutes for what should be a 10 minute drive. Are you seriously suggesting that I should set off even earlier? Surely this would be unreasonable.
Twisted Nipple
says...
2:26pm Thu 21 Jan 10
S!mon wrote:Come on Simon, you are being a bit disrespectful to the poor chap but discussing traffic costs on this story, aren't you?
Twisted Nipple wrote: I set off for work 40 minutes for what should be a 10 minute drive. Are you seriously suggesting that I should set off even earlier? Surely this would be unreasonable.You only live 10mins car journey away and work in Southampton? So you pay for using the toll bridge, pay for petrol, pay for parking (I assume)? Surely, taking the bus would be more cost effective?
Big Mac
says...
2:29pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:As your job is so important to you and you're expressing concern about being able to keep it, may I suggest you get on with it, rather than trying to back-track on here.
I am not meaning to cause offence. Just simply saying that something needs to be done on the Itchen Bridge to prevent people from jumping off trying to jump off it as it causes massive disruption to the city. Sorry if I caused any offenct.
Spokesman for the Animals
says...
3:27pm Thu 21 Jan 10
S!mon
says...
3:32pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Twisted Nipple wrote:Yes, I am. Apologies to the family. My sincerest condolescences.
S!mon wrote:Come on Simon, you are being a bit disrespectful to the poor chap but discussing traffic costs on this story, aren't you?Twisted Nipple wrote: I set off for work 40 minutes for what should be a 10 minute drive. Are you seriously suggesting that I should set off even earlier? Surely this would be unreasonable.You only live 10mins car journey away and work in Southampton? So you pay for using the toll bridge, pay for petrol, pay for parking (I assume)? Surely, taking the bus would be more cost effective?
shaving your pubes is so 2010
says...
4:42pm Thu 21 Jan 10
colinpickford1
says...
4:55pm Thu 21 Jan 10
shaving your pubes is so 2010 wrote:And your point is??????????????????
it says he "had recently broken up with his boyfriend"
is this a typo?
He is a man right?
King Mush
says...
5:26pm Thu 21 Jan 10
stickymcglue wrote:Maybe a 12' high fence with barbed wire on top might deter a few would be suicides? Not practical in the real world and there are, sadly, a number of well known jumping spots all over the world. You will not be able to prevent this unfortunate 'way out' for some.
The itchen Bridge should have be fitted with barred railings years and years ago , they would preserve the view , yet save lives....
King Mush
says...
5:30pm Thu 21 Jan 10
stickymcglue wrote:Maybe a 12' high fence with barbed wire on top might deter a few would be suicides? Not practical in the real world and there are, sadly, a number of well known jumping spots all over the world. You will not be able to prevent this unfortunate 'way out' for some.
The itchen Bridge should have be fitted with barred railings years and years ago , they would preserve the view , yet save lives....
Brite Spark
says...
5:43pm Thu 21 Jan 10
King Mush wrote:I agree with KM and I don't mean this in an insensitive way however, at least he had the foresite not to throw himself under one of the trains he used that day, or off the bridge into the mud at low tide.
stickymcglue wrote:Maybe a 12' high fence with barbed wire on top might deter a few would be suicides? Not practical in the real world and there are, sadly, a number of well known jumping spots all over the world. You will not be able to prevent this unfortunate 'way out' for some.
The itchen Bridge should have be fitted with barred railings years and years ago , they would preserve the view , yet save lives....
Another tragic waste of a life.
We've had far too many incidents on the bridge and spare a thought for those who have to clean up after a dry land impact.
matts
says...
8:54pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Ted Rogers wrote:what a complete and utter senceless thing to say!!!! lets hope you never feel suicidle in a time in your life Twisted nipple!!!! just Twisted springs to mind..lets try to remmember that he was somebodys son..would you be saying that if he was a close relation to you..as for work find another job..unless they have found a cure for death i have not heard off you cant replace life.. thats obviouse and i cant believe i am having to say it..there is nothing wrong with the bridge as people will find other methods of killing themselfs as they do..its there choice if they decide that they can no longer carry on and its the only way out...thats just like sombody saying that they were late for work because somebody jumped on to the train track at woolston station...you have to be kidding me if you really think this way and if you do then your a complete and utter ****
Twisted Nipple wrote:Maybe you should think about a little personal organisation and set off a little earlier for work; then the chances of it happening 'much more', would be less.Ted Rogers wrote:I was late for work this morning due to a traffic jam, if this happens much more then possibly I could get the sack... which would indeed be a life-changing disruption. I am sure there are other places which would suffice as suicide spots but wouldn't disrupt the lives of innocent members of the public.Twisted Nipple wrote: Why was my post about the disruption suicides on that bridge cause for motorists removed? It was a valid point... when someone jumps off that bridge, it can be closed for hours, causing absolute chaos.It was probably removed as it was deemed as insensitive and irrelevant when compared to a sad loss of a young life. Pick a different story to comment upon the life changing disruption that being stuck in a traffic jam can cause.
Dogsmeat
says...
9:30pm Thu 21 Jan 10
alabaster
says...
10:10pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Lovebird
says...
9:23am Fri 22 Jan 10
shaving your pubes is so 2010 wrote:Yes, he is a man, thats what the article states. You may not be aware but men are allowed to date men and it is no more surprising than it would be if it said "girlfriend".
it says he "had recently broken up with his boyfriend" is this a typo? He is a man right?
carly_marie
says...
10:06am Fri 22 Jan 10
King Mush
says...
11:24am Fri 22 Jan 10
carly_marie
says...
1:29pm Fri 22 Jan 10
cockney boy
says...
1:46pm Fri 22 Jan 10
King Mush
says...
4:50pm Fri 22 Jan 10
cockney boy wrote:I guess you are a trained psychiatrist and know all about the minds of those less well balanced than us?
you all say think of his family ? did he do that just before he jumped no , suicide is a selfish act because other people have to clear up after . so who is thinking of who when they decide to end there life !!!!!!!
matts
says...
7:49pm Fri 22 Jan 10
cockney boy wrote:untill you have been there for yourself,you cant make a comment like that cockney boy..well you can but i'd say you need to see the bigger picture
you all say think of his family ? did he do that just before he jumped no , suicide is a selfish act because other people have to clear up after . so who is thinking of who when they decide to end there life !!!!!!!
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freemantlegirl2 says...
8:52am Thu 21 Jan 10