Quote:
Clarkson also made comments about train suicides in the same show and in his Sun column on Saturday, he said those who chose to kill themselves at railway stations caused "immense" disruption for commuters.
"I have the deepest sympathy for anyone whose life is so mangled and messed up that they believe death's icy embrace will be better," he wrote.
"However, it is a very selfish way to go because the disruption it causes is immense. And think what it's like for the poor train driver who sees you lying on the line and can do absolutely nothing to avoid a collision."
Referring to those who jumped in front of trains as "Johnny Suicide", Clarkson said trains should resume their journey as soon as possible following a suicide and leave the body parts for scavenging animals.
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the Samaritans, said the insensitivity of Clarkson's comments "truly beggars belief".
She said: "While purporting to express sympathy for people who die this way, his remarks about their bodies constitute gross intrusion into the grief and shock of bereaved families and friends.
"His notion that suicide is a selfish act shows how little he knows about the subject because, if he did, he would know that when a person attempts suicide they are so distressed that they genuinely believe their families will be better off without them.
"The concept that their actions could be construed as selfish is the furthest thing from their mind."
Johnstone added that insensitive media coverage of suicide could trigger so-called "copycat" deaths.
"We have already made a complaint to Ofcom about his remarks on The One Show and we will now be taking up today's comments with the Press Complaints Commission."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, described the comments as "extraordinarily tasteless".
He said: "I think there will be many people who have lost loved ones to suicide and people who have contemplated suicide that will think it is in extremely bad taste.
"It stands out like a sore thumb from what is increasingly a more supportive approach to suicide by the media.
"People will feel like he is trivialising the subject and dismissing people who have taken their own lives. This is a man who really doesn't understand what he is talking about."
"I have the deepest sympathy for anyone whose life is so mangled and messed up that they believe death's icy embrace will be better," he wrote.
"However, it is a very selfish way to go because the disruption it causes is immense. And think what it's like for the poor train driver who sees you lying on the line and can do absolutely nothing to avoid a collision."
Referring to those who jumped in front of trains as "Johnny Suicide", Clarkson said trains should resume their journey as soon as possible following a suicide and leave the body parts for scavenging animals.
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the Samaritans, said the insensitivity of Clarkson's comments "truly beggars belief".
She said: "While purporting to express sympathy for people who die this way, his remarks about their bodies constitute gross intrusion into the grief and shock of bereaved families and friends.
"His notion that suicide is a selfish act shows how little he knows about the subject because, if he did, he would know that when a person attempts suicide they are so distressed that they genuinely believe their families will be better off without them.
"The concept that their actions could be construed as selfish is the furthest thing from their mind."
Johnstone added that insensitive media coverage of suicide could trigger so-called "copycat" deaths.
"We have already made a complaint to Ofcom about his remarks on The One Show and we will now be taking up today's comments with the Press Complaints Commission."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, described the comments as "extraordinarily tasteless".
He said: "I think there will be many people who have lost loved ones to suicide and people who have contemplated suicide that will think it is in extremely bad taste.
"It stands out like a sore thumb from what is increasingly a more supportive approach to suicide by the media.
"People will feel like he is trivialising the subject and dismissing people who have taken their own lives. This is a man who really doesn't understand what he is talking about."
I think this sort of action is incredibly selfish. Not only are you traumatizing the driver, who will live the rest of his life with the image of a person lying on the tracks and the knowledge that he killed someone, but what about the people who have to clean you up?
I understand mental illness, and the want of committing suicide in extreme situations, but if you are that hellbent then there is surely another way.
Do you agree, or disagree?
[p.s I know what it feels like to want to kill yourself, I considered it age nine, so don't say I don't understand how they feel, I do.]
