Kyle Ingham died for 10 minutes after stepping onto tram tracks on the Oldham and Rochdale Line on October 11. He had been out for drinks when he called his parents in distress
A 21-year-old man who attempted to take his own life by jumping in front of a tram called his parents moments before to tell them he “couldn’t do this anymore”
Kyle Ingham died for 10 minutes after stepping onto tram tracks on the Oldham and Rochdale Line on October 11. He had been out for drinks when he called his parents. Believing Kyle was boarding a tram to stay with friends, parents Kathy and Mark thought they would see their son the following morning.
But when they heard sirens rushing past their home in Shaw, they knew something was seriously wrong. Mark managed to find the scene where police asked him to show them a photo of Kyle.
Tragically, officers confirmed the news they were fearing – Kyle had jumped out in front of a moving tram. “He was in high spirits; he had been like that for a fair few weeks,” Kathy, 51, told the Manchester Evening News.
“One of the lads from the pub at the bottom of the street asked if he wanted to go for a pint. He said he would but he couldn’t stay out because it was his sister’s birthday the next day. He went for a game of pool and stopped at another pub to get beers to take home. He walked down towards a tram track and rang me and his dad about 10.45pm.
“He said, ‘I love you, and my mum, and the dog, but I can’t do this anymore. I’ve got to go. My tram’s here.’ That’s the last thing we heard. We thought he was going to get on a tram and stay with someone. We didn’t think he meant he was going to do what he did.
Sadly, Kyle suffered severe injuries in the collision, including a “massive” brain injury, broken ribs, pierced lungs, multiple facial fractures, a hand fracture and a broken hip, pelvis and collarbone. His family say he underwent several hours of emergency surgery at the scene before he was stable enough to be transported via air ambulance.
It’s believed his heart stopped beating for 10 minutes. Once at hospital, his loved ones were told his injuries were so severe it was unlikely he would survive.
“I still see him jumping again in my mind when I go to sleep,” Kathy said as she broke down in tears. “But we can’t tell him yet what he’s done – he thinks he’s been in a car accident. It just killed a part of us. They let me stay in the hospital with him for three days. I stayed with him in critical care. If it hadn’t been for them – all the doctors and surgeons around him and everyone else involved that night – we wouldn’t have him.
“Not one surgeon said he was going to pull through that. The injuries he had – they said he wouldn’t make it. But he beat all the odds.”
Kyle had struggled with his mental health since the passing of his beloved pet dog Oxy, mum-of-four Kathy said. He also had his confidence knocked when his application to join the RAF was rejected.
“He’s only opened up to me a few times,” Kathy added. “It’s very rare he talks to anyone about what’s going on, apart from his older sister.”
The mum says Kyle remained unresponsive until he was visited by Oldham Athletic players who came to his bedside.
Incredibly, Kyle opened his eyes, and his condition has slowly improved ever since. “He’s been talking and eating for the past two weeks,” Kathy added. “He’s very different.
“Since he’s been able to talk, he’s a lot funnier than he normally is. He’s like a child – he will have to learn everything again. “His long-term memory is there, but little bits you have to jog. He’ll get it eventually.”
The tragedy has not only taken an emotional toll on the family, it’s strained them financially too.
“We’ve lost all the savings I’d put away,” Kathy said. “It’s gone on getting him here every day – fuel, having to pay three different families’ fuel costs for their cars to bring me.
“Not many people can jump in front of a tram with no intention of coming back and make it through the way he has. We’ve been through it big time.” It’s hoped her fundraiser will help raise cash for Andy’s Man Club and Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention.
It reads: “Our son never showed signs of any issues on the day he jumped and we need to get this issue with men more out there. It’s not spoken about.
“Men think if they tell people how they feel then it belittles them and makes them look weak but it doesn’t. “We want to raise what we can to get more help as there are so many young men that are taking their own lives and leaving families like ourselves devastated.
“We want to change this now and if I can save one man’s life then I know I’m doing things right.”
To donate, follow the link by clicking here.
*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch