Hero plumber on heartbreaking moment 'three lads' saved him as he tried to take his own life

A hero plumber has urged people to speak out about their mental health after revealing he tried to take his own life 13 years ago.

James Anderson founded the Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Hearing Emergency Response (DEPHER), which works towards helping vulnerable people in their times of need. However, before he dedicated himself to helping other, the Burnley plumber shared how three men previously saved his life.

At the time, James was battling his own demons and said he "couldn't see a way" out of the problems he was facing. Now, James is hoping to find the three lads and thank them for saving his life, Lancashire Live reports.

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Taking to social media to share his incredibly emotional plea, James said: "This is very hard to talk about. Very few know, but I just need to. Please accept my sincere apologies if it upsets you. In 2010, three young men saved my life, I was in a very dark place. I need to find them, I need to thank them. It was at Black Hill, Sabden."

He added: "It was a very hard time. I felt bullied, intimidated, trapped. I couldn't see a way out and I thought that ending my life was the only answer to the problems I was facing."

James described how in 2010 he drove to Clitheroe, Lancashire with the intent of ending his life. In the early hours of the morning, James was woken up by three young lads who 'banged hell' on his van in an attempt to rouse him.

"It scared me. I got out of the van and then drove home," James said. The lads who had woken him had passed his registration plate to the Police, who tracked him down and came to his house.

James continued: "The police sat down