A MOTHER and daughter have described the moments they helped save a man's life after finding him lying on a bench in the town centre – and are making an appeal to trace him.

Mum-of-four Kath Wilbraham, from the town centre, was walking past benches near Burchalls on Westfield Street, St Helens with her daughter Christine on Sunday, February 3, when they saw a smartly-dressed man on a bench in "a state".

Despite the fact they knew nothing about him and others kept walking past, the pair stopped and asked him how he was and if he wanted help to get a taxi, presuming he was drunk.

But they found the man was confused and he told them he had taken heroin and cocaine in a bid to end his own life.

They called for an ambulance and paramedics arrived to treat him.

The kind-hearted duo hope to find the man and his family to check how he is doing – and have shared his story to raise awareness.

Kath, 58, who owns JC's Gym Cafe on Jackson Street, said: "It was around 8.30pm on Sunday and the man was just lying there on the bench but was very clean and well dressed with named clothes and everything, so we thought he had just had a lot to drink.

"My daughter went up to him to shake him and make sure he was OK but when he came around he was in a state and told us he had taken heroin and crack cocaine to end his life.

"I rang the ambulance and they came out in 10 minutes. But fortunately they managed to save him and took him to Whiston Hospital.

"I'm just so glad that we stopped. I have three sons myself and I would have stopped even if he had looked homeless because no one should be alone in a state like that or in this weather. I couldn't believe it when I saw loads of people walk past.

"He was tall with with curly hair and had recently lost his sister and brother and his partner had left him so he had lost touch with his children.

"I hope by sharing this others think on and realise that that person on the bench could just be a broken person needing help.

"Stop next time and think of others please, we couldn't believe that if we hadn't of stopped he would have died.

"Mental health is a big issue now, among men especially because women talk to each other more, don't just walk past.

"If you are out there, just let us know how you are and know that you are not alone."

Christine Mason, 38, Kath's daughter, added: "I couldn't believe how many people just walked past him, he was just a person who needed help.

"When will others start treating people like people?"

"This man was begging us not to call the ambulance and said he had just had enough.

"He had clearly been through a lot by what he was telling us, but it's sad that he felt he had no one or nowhere to turn to.

"After the ambulance arrived he said: 'thank you so much for helping me'."

If you know the man involved email Star reporter kelsey.maxwell@nqnw.co.uk