Encore: After triple zero — a paramedic's tale

Benjamin Gilmour describes the hectic work of saving lives, and what it's like to bring people back from the brink of suicide. (R)

Ben was been a paramedic for twenty six years and was based in inner Sydney for more than a decade.

A regular working week for Bondi's ambulance crews would see them called out to cardiac arrests, drug overdoses, domestic disputes, and to suicides.

Their patch included a notorious cliff known as 'The Gap', where it would often be Ben’s job to convince people to come back from the edge.

Content Warning

This episode deals directly with suicide, and may be distressing for some people.

Please do seek help if you need it. There is always someone who can talk with you.

If you or anyone you know needs help

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

BeyondBlue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 890

Further information

Originally broadcast January 2020.

The Gap was published by Penguin.

Listen to Benjamin's conversation with Sarah on directing his feature film, Jirga, in Afghanistan (2018).

This episode was produced by Michelle-Ransom-Hughes and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

It deals with suicide, mental health, mental illness, PTSD, mateship, colleagues, work friends, The Gap, cardiac arrest, first on the scene, front line workers, ambos, ambulance, paramedics, emergency, 000.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.