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Friends were shaken on Thursday by the tragic death of Arnold Simms, a 61-year-old man of Westridge.

The news spread quickly, leaving friends and neighbours struggling to understand the sudden loss.

“Why, bro?” close friend Rush Bevans asked in disbelief. “This really bothered me,” he said in a social media post.

The sorrow was felt by many who knew Simms.

Police, still investigating the incident, say Simms was found in his home, suspended from the attic with a cord attached.

Julie Hoffer, who had recently seen him at the Hoffer Shopping Center West, was stunned by the news as she processed his passing. Their connection, she said, is rooted in Long Island ties.

Roslyn Rodgers, a former colleague, was shocked when she heard the news: “Oh my goodness! He was a nice person, rather pleasant indeed.”

In the midst of the grief, Bevans reminded loved ones about the importance of checking in on one another.

“Get nosy. Check on those we love,” he urged. “Be intentional in asking how they are doing and if they are okay. I believe the warning signs are always there. Sometimes we don’t see them, or we choose to mind our own business. It’s time to be nosy with our friends and our loved ones.”

Simms’ death sparked conversations about mental health and the importance of checking in on others.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to a trusted friend, family member, faith leader, or healthcare provider for support.

Or you can call the Bahamas Crisis Centre at 328-0922.

In an emergency, contact the emergency services.

You are not alone.

Minutes after a woman died jumping off the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge on Sunday, a reporter in the area witnessing the horrifying ordeal, gave insight into what happened the moments before tragedy struck.

The woman, described as heavily built and wearing a black top and shorts, is believed to be in her mid-30s. Authorities are still trying to identify her by name.

“It’s scarring,” Anthonique Smith, a reporter from ZNS said, describing the moments after she learned the woman she spotted earlier had jumped to her death.

Smith and a cameraman were in transit when they heard “agitated patrons” nearby. When they stopped, they saw a woman perched at the top of the bridge.

“The woman sat for a while, a bus passed and the silhouette of the woman was gone.”

“I realized she jumped,” Smith said.

A boat went out and retrieved her but she was dead.

Authorities said they received a call around 3 pm of a woman attempting to jump over the bridge, but when they arrived, the woman was not present as reported.

What’s unknown

Police do not know the name of the woman or her next of kin.

A motive for the alleged suicide remains unknown.

The reaction

When news circulated on social media, many Bahamians expressed shock.

Montez Brown believes mental health is a serious issue that needs to be immediately addressed.

“Too many people walking around suffering mentally with no one to turn to…People walking lost and even some fully functioning but dep down going through stuff and don’t know why they having the feelings they have.”

Harold Longley reflected on life, stating that people’s problems may seem insurmountable and they may resort to taking their own lives.

Nikita Campbell asks that we pray earnestly for others.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the Bahamas Crisis Center at 326-0121. Or speak to a trusted friend or pastor.