Suicidal woman and “Jump” played by DJ Steve Penk

Controversial radio DJ Steve Penk, who is renowned for making prank calls live on air, has been condemned by mental health charities recently, after he played a song titled “Jump,” as police were trying to talk down a suicidal woman from a motorway bridge.

According to telegraph.co.uk, the presenter received a request from a listener to play “Jump” by Van Halen, after four lanes of the M60 were closed off while police attempted to deal with the woman and the delicate situation that was happening.

Steve Penk then told his listeners that he was playing the song to empathise with all the frustrated motorists. It was only moments later that the 30-year old woman jumped from the 30ft bridge. Reports say that she only suffered minor injuries in the fall.

Mental health charities are now lashing out at Penk, branding the DJ’s behaviour as irresponsible and in poor taste. A spokesman for The Samaritans said that it just shows a lack of compassion and understanding, while Mind’s Paul Farmer called it “very poor taste.”

But it appears that Penk, who owns the North West radio station, says that he does not regret playing the song at all. He went on to say how the entire area had been thrown into total chaos by one single troubled woman, but was sorry to hear she’d jumped.