By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 18th January 2010

Comments (22) Add to My Stories A Radio DJ has been condemned by mental health charities after he played the song Jump as police were trying to talk down a suicidal woman from a motorway bridge.
Steve Penk received a request from a listener for the hit Van Halen track after four lanes of the M60 were closed while police attempted to deal resolve the situation.
The controversial presenter told listeners on his breakfast show he was playing the song to 'emphathise' with frustrated drivers, but moments later the woman jumped from the 30ft bridge.



The 30-year-old woman suffered minor injuries, but mental heath charities branded his behaviour on 96.2FM The Revolution 'in very poor taste'.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: 'Given the distressing circumstances, the decision to play "Jump" was highly insensitive and in very poor taste.

'Media have a responsibility for their audience and jovialising such a situation could be fatal.
'People that experience mental distress should be encouraged to speak out and seek help.
'Yet the huge stigma that surrounds mental health means that many feel they have to cope on their own, with potentially tragic consequences.'
A spokesman for The Samaritans added: 'It shows a lack of compassion and understanding.'
Some listeners also voiced their anger at Mr Penk.
Lorna Guinn, 42, said: 'It's irresponsible - this woman could have overheard it on someone's car stereo.
'I found it pathetic and nasty.'

Mr Penk, who owns the radio station in the north west, has become renowned for making prank calls live on air.
He told The Sun: 'The entire area had been thrown into total chaos by a single troubled woman.
'I was very sorry to hear that the lady had subsequently jumped from the bridge, but relieved that her injuries were minor.
'If, as has been suggested, the woman jumped because she heard it from a passing car radio that's unfortunate.
'But I don't regret playing it for a minute.'
In 1998, Mr Penk and impressionist John Culshaw managed to dupe the switchboard at Number 10 and were put through to then Prime Minister Tony Blair pretending to be opposition leader William Hague


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Oh, they need to get over it. It's not the DJ's fault that the woman was loopy.

Acrylic said:

Yeah, but the culture has devolved to frighteningly scary levels. One time when on the train going to LA, the train came to a grinding halt and the conductor announced that someone had just committed suicide by walking in front of the train and the entire car started cheering like their team just won the world series.

So yeah, what an ass.
[Edited 1/18/10 16:15pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Agreed.

He's totally lame-o for playing it.

Somebody does not block 6 lanes of traffic in order to end their own life unless they need help. Whatever the DJ's motivations, compassion was not among them.

TheVoid said:

I agree. What he did was cruel...

wow.

CHIC0 said:

He's an asshole but at least he didn't apologize for something he's not sorry he did like a lot of these other assholes.

I love that song! I would probably climb down from a bridge if I heard it!

So why isn't the listener who requested the song not being chastised? If the DJ is at work doing his job, then the driver who had to have turned his stereo up really loud to be heard from 30 feet above is the real insensitive one no?

Vendetta1 said:

It's early, he'll cave

CalhounSq said:

You're right.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

OMG that is awful! Seriously! Why? Wow, not normal people sorry, laugh when someone....insane

damn....

and I had a whole playlist ready

Jump by the Pointer Sisters
Jump To It by Aretha Franklin
Jump by Kriss Kross
Jump Around by House of Pain
The Jump Off by Lil Kim



I'm so uncompassionate.....

BklynBabe said:

BklynBabe said:

you are sooooo wrong!

ScarletScandal said:

so wrong. lol

Doesn't seem high enough to try to kill yourself anyway.

AnckSuNamun said:

A woman jumped off a much lower overpass near my house a couple of months ago. She died.
[Edited 1/19/10 23:29pm]

JustErin said:

I would think it's how you land.

Well, his playlist choices are about as up to date as his gear.

novabrkr said:

"Gear", as in, clothing?

As in equipment.

The mixer's apparently an old radio broadcast model from the 80s - which is perfectly okay - but it's pretty funny seeing him surrounded by all those old PCs. Don't get me wrong, I've also piled up all kinds of old stuff into my apartment, but what I am seeing in that photo makes even me chuckle.

nobody enjoys being an inconsiderate asshole more than me...but that was lame...I say and do a lot of shitty things, but I'll never devalue life...mine or anyone elses...fuck him

thejason said:

It was totally inconsiderate of him...but I hope no one is BLAMING him for her jumping.