Man who tried to kill himself recount ordeal: That’s me in the picture, Kevin Berthia on the Golden Gate bridge

‘I was convinced I was going to hurl myself off but his voice made me stop and grab the railings. That’s what you see'

As I jumped over the railings I heard someone say: “Hey, wait a minute.” I was convinced I was going to end my life, but at the last moment his voice made me stop and grab the railings. That’s what you see in the picture – me standing on the ledge"

I had never been to the Golden Gate bridge before that day. I didn’t even know how to get there – I had to ask for directions. I had never dealt with any of the problems in my life, and that morning I was overwhelmed by it all. I was adopted at six months and my adoptive parents divorced when I was 12. I had just become a father; my daughter was born prematurely and was in an incubator for eight weeks. I blamed myself.

I had never spoken to anybody about how I felt and I never accepted I had depression. Where I come from – Oakland, California – reputation is everything, so I convinced everyone I was OK. But I was tired and I couldn’t do it any more. Read more