A man, reportedly COVID-19 positive, was found hanged from a pedestrian bridge in Balakong, Selangor today.

According to Harian Metro, the 56-year-old man had complained to his kin that he could not bear the excessive coughing, fever and shortness of breath, before taking his own life.

Kajang police chief ACP Mohd Zaid Hassan said the police received a call from a member of the public about 7.47am, after spotting the body hanging from the bridge along the SILK Highway.

"Early investigations revealed that the victim is believed to have been suffering from COVID-19, and was unable to bear the severe symptoms that he experienced from the disease.

"The body was taken down by the Fire Department's help and sent to the Kajang Hospital for a post-mortem," the Malay tabloid daily quoted Mohd Zaid saying in a statement today.

There has been an increase in the number of suicide cases during the COVID-19 lockdown.

It was reported that 226 people committed suicide during the first Movement Control Order (MCO) from March to October last year - an average of one case a day.

Tele-counselling hotline Befrienders KL also recently received that the number of people calling in with suicidal tendencies have increased as of May this year. One out of four callers indicated suicidal nature, a recent report said.

One such case last Wednesday involved a man jumping to his death from his apartment in Butterworth due to stress of his business being shut down during the lockdown.

If you have suicidal tendencies, or know someone who has, you can speak with trained volunteers at Befrienders KL at 03-76272929 any time of the day. All information and details of conversations will be kept confidential.

Source: Harian Metro
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