DJ blasted for playing Jump as woman leaps from bridge

Controversial radio DJ Steve Penk has come under fire from mental health groups after playing the Van Halen song Jump on the radio as police dealt with a suicide attempt. Four lanes of the M60 motorway were closed while the police tried to talk the woman down from a bridge.

A frustrated listener, stuck in the traffic backlog, called in to Penk's The Revolution breakfast show to request the song. The DJ duly obliged the request, saying he sympathised with the motorist's frustration. Moments later, the 30-year-old woman jumped from the bridge.

While she only sustained minor injuries, mental health charities branded the DJ's behaviour irresponsible and insensitive.



"It shows a lack of compassion and understanding," said a rep from The Samaritans, while Paul Farmer of Mind said it was 'in very poor taste'

Penk, however, was unmoved by the criticisms. "The entire area had been thrown into total chaos by a single troubled woman," he responded. "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."