Man In 'Mental Distress' Tries To Hang Himself, Slits Throat: PD

NORTHAMPTON, NY — Police rescued a suicidal man who tried to hang himself and slit his own throat in Northampton Friday afternoon, authorities said.

According to Southampton Town Police, a call came in at 12:53 p.m. about a man, who is in his 40s, in "mental distress" in Northampton.

When police arrived, the man climbed a tree and began making suicidal statements, police said.

A Suffolk County mobile crisis unit was notified to respond, as well as trained crisis negotiators from the Southampton Town Police Department, authorities said. During negotiations, the man began to attempt to hang himself with his clothing; the situation escalated when he slit his own throat with a razor, police said.

Southampton Town Police then cut the tree and guided it onto a trampoline that was placed underneath, to lower the man to safety, police said.

The Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance and Riverhead Fire Department responded to assist; the man was transported by Flanders-Northampton Ambulance and
Suffolk County aviation to be treated for self-inflicted injuries, police said.