For almost half a century, Don Ritchie would approach people contemplating suicide at the edge of The Gap, just 50 metres from his home in Watsons Bay, his palms facing up.
Mr Ritchie told his daughter Sue Ritchie Bereny he would smile and say: “Is there something I could do to help you?”
“And that was all that was often needed to turn people around, and he would say not to underestimate the power of a kind word and a smile,” said Ms Ritchie Mr Ritchie, sometimes known as the angel or watchman of The Gap, is acknowledged to have stopped about 160 people from jumping to their deaths.
He died at St Vincent’s Hospital [in 2012], surrounded by his wife Moya, 85, daughters Jan, Donna and Sue, and four grandchildren, who travelled from across Australia and from Indonesia to Sydney to see him. He was 85.
Source: smh.com.au
Kindness Blog 
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
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Reblogged this on A Grateful Man and commented:
“is there something I could do to help you?” A simple sentence and simple actions that saved 160 lives. Quite a legacy Don Ritchie left behind.
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beautiful
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May I reblog this?
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Hey There 🙂
You certainly can!!!
Peace to you ♥
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing…the power of simplicity, interest in others and a friendly smile.
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What a wonderful man , it makes me feel better just knowing he walked among us!
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Same!!! 🙂 ♥
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We can all do this just in our daily interaction with people we meet on the street or store; a smile and a meaningful hello.
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Fantastic story
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Great story, there should be more Dan Richies in this world.
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Excellent post. Great saved 160 lives.
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