The area where footballer Aaron Lennon was detained by police under the Mental Health Act is next to an incident hotspot motorway where one man fell from a bridge last year.
Officers were called to a location on Stott Lane in Salford following reports from the members of the public on Sunday afternoon where they detained the Everton player under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Stott Lane is home to Salford Royal Hospital, and joins onto Eccles Old Road which connects the A6 with the M602 motorway – where there were also two incidences of men being rescued from bridges last year.
Concerns were raised over Lennon’s state of mind before being stopped and spoken to by police, who had been following him for 20 minutes.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at around 3:45pm on Sunday 30 April to reports of a concern for the welfare of a man on Eccles Old Road.
“Officers attended and a 30-year-old man was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital for assessment.”
There have been several incidents on the M602 over the last couple of years, most recently in September when a man was taken to hospital after falling from an overpass near junction two.
That came after a 21-year-old man threatened to jump to his death in February, causing the motorway to temporarily close. Once safe, he was detained under Section 138 of the Mental Health Act and taken to Salford Royal Hospital.
And in April 2015 a woman fell to her death from a bridge over the M602, which runs between Monton and Eccles in a case that’s status remains ‘unexplained.’
Everton Football Club released their own statement on Tuesday, which read: “Aaron Lennon is currently receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness.
“The club is supporting him through this and his family has appealed for privacy at this time.”
He has not played a first team fixture since February, when he featured as a substitute in a 0-0 draw away at Middlesbrough.
The news comes just days before the start of Mental Health Awareness week, which runs from 8 May to 14 May, and while they couldn’t comment on the incident, a spokesperson for Samaritans offered their advice to those who believe they are suffering from mental health problems.
“Life is tough and anyone can feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s family, relationships, work, health, debt, study, bereavement or anything else, anyone can contact Samaritans.
“Whatever you’re going through, you can call us free at any time from any phone on 116 123, or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.”
Featured image credit: DSanchez17/Flickr
By Tom Woods
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