For 50 years, Don Ritchie lived across from one of Australia's most notorious suicide spots—a cliff called The Gap overlooking the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

The kind man, also known as the Angel of The Gap, made it his self-appointed duty to save those who came there to end their lives.

With nothing more than a warm smile and an offer of tea, some accounts say he managed to pull back over 500 people from the brink of the rocky coast.

'Why don’t you come and have a cup of tea?' he would ask.

Ritchie, a former life insurance salesman, considered the ability to save so many and ‘sell’ them life a gift.

Don Ritchie lived across Australia’s most famous suicide spot called The Gap and has saved 500 lives from jumping off the cliff. Image source: Australian of the Year Awards (left), Flickr (right).

'You can’t just sit there and watch them,' he said.

'You gotta try and save them.'

Every morning, Ritchie would scan the cliff, and if he spotted anyone standing alone close to the edge, he would hurry to their side.

There were times when he nearly lost his own life while trying to save others. Once, a woman tried to jump to the other side while Ritchie was in between, and had the woman been successful, they probably would have gone over together.

After that incident, Ritchie kept a safer distance but still offered a listening ear. Though he never tried to counsel, advise, or pry, he merely asked if they’d like to talk and invited them over to his house for tea.

'I’m offering them an alternative, really,' Ritchie said.

However, the motivations behind suicide are complex, and Ritchie couldn't save everyone who came to The Gap. But his simple act of kindness and compassion helped countless people rethink their actions.

The Australian government awarded Ritchie a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006. He hung the award in his living room just above a painting of sunshine left in his mailbox.

On the painting, Richie was called ‘an angel that walks among us’.

In 2011, Ritchie was named a Local Hero at the Australian of the Year awards.

'Upon accepting the award, Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need,' Kevin Humphries, a former politician, said.

'Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word.'

When Ritchie died in 2012 at 85, the Australian prime minister hailed him as 'a true hero, one of our greatest Australians'.

There are several organisations that provide support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia. You may refer to the list below for more information:

Key Takeaways

• Don Ritchie, often referred to as The Angel of The Gap, spent 50 years living by one of Australia’s most infamous suicide spots.
  
• He saved an estimated 500 lives by offering a cup of tea and a kind word to those contemplating ending their lives at the cliff's edge.
  
• His efforts were officially recognised in 2006 when he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2011, he was named a Local Hero at the Australian of the Year awards.
  
• Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Don Ritchie as 'a true hero, one of our greatest Australians' when he passed away in 2012 at age 85.
  

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis and needs help now, call triple zero (000).

You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[mummygoth]

What a remarkably compassionate man. In the 60's I often went to the Gap Tavern at Watson's Bay & had the pleasure of meeting Rexie, a German Shepherd who was also a life saver.

This from a 2004 SMH article (https://www.smh.com.au/national/column-8-20040401-gdinef.html)

"On this day 40 years ago, Rexie the wonder dog became the first German shepherd in Australia to be presented with an order of merit. Although it now sounds like an urban myth, Rexie was famed for being able to detect (by a claimed "sixth sense") when would-be suicides were intending to jump from The Gap at Watsons Bay. She would then run over and bark to attract attention. Rexie, who died in 1970, lived at the nearby Gap Tavern (now demolished) owned by Janos "John" Nagy. The dog was famous enough to feature in an episode of Four Corners, although these days she remains virtually forgotten. But not by Dulcie Buist of Woollahra, who still has a Gap Tavern placemat telling of Rexie's daring deeds. Woollahra Council has erected its own tribute of sorts. Signs saying "Dogs Totally Prohibited: Maximum Penalty $500" now adorn the cliffs.

 

[Ricki]

If we all had one percent of the compassion of this man, the world would be a better place

 

[pymmie]

What a heart warming story, this man is one out of the Box. Extraordinary. We need more compassions towards others in life

 

[Emmy Im12]

For 50 years, Don Ritchie lived across from one of Australia's most notorious suicide spots—a cliff called The Gap overlooking the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

The kind man, also known as the Angel of The Gap, made it his self-appointed duty to save those who came there to end their lives.

With nothing more than a warm smile and an offer of tea, some accounts say he managed to pull back over 500 people from the brink of the rocky coast.

'Why don’t you come and have a cup of tea?' he would ask.

Ritchie, a former life insurance salesman, considered the ability to save so many and ‘sell’ them life a gift.

View attachment 31857

Don Ritchie lived across Australia’s most famous suicide spot called The Gap and has saved 500 lives from jumping off the cliff. Image source: Australian of the Year Awards (left), Flickr (right).

'You can’t just sit there and watch them,' he said.

'You gotta try and save them.'

Every morning, Ritchie would scan the cliff, and if he spotted anyone standing alone close to the edge, he would hurry to their side.

There were times when he nearly lost his own life while trying to save others. Once, a woman tried to jump to the other side while Ritchie was in between, and had the woman been successful, they probably would have gone over together.

After that incident, Ritchie kept a safer distance but still offered a listening ear. Though he never tried to counsel, advise, or pry, he merely asked if they’d like to talk and invited them over to his house for tea.

'I’m offering them an alternative, really,' Ritchie said.

However, the motivations behind suicide are complex, and Ritchie couldn't save everyone who came to The Gap. But his simple act of kindness and compassion helped countless people rethink their actions.

The Australian government awarded Ritchie a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006. He hung the award in his living room just above a painting of sunshine left in his mailbox.

On the painting, Richie was called ‘an angel that walks among us’.

In 2011, Ritchie was named a Local Hero at the Australian of the Year awards.

'Upon accepting the award, Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need,' Kevin Humphries, a former politician, said.

'Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word.'

When Ritchie died in 2012 at 85, the Australian prime minister hailed him as 'a true hero, one of our greatest Australians'.

There are several organisations that provide support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia. You may refer to the list below for more information:

Key Takeaways

• Don Ritchie, often referred to as The Angel of The Gap, spent 50 years living by one of Australia’s most infamous suicide spots.
• He saved an estimated 500 lives by offering a cup of tea and a kind word to those contemplating ending their lives at the cliff's edge.
• His efforts were officially recognised in 2006 when he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2011, he was named a Local Hero at the Australian of the Year awards.
• Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Don Ritchie as 'a true hero, one of our greatest Australians' when he passed away in 2012 at age 85.

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis and needs help now, call triple zero (000).

You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments below.