A Florida man committed suicide after an alligator killed his service dog with whom he had a very close bond and which he considered his best friend.
Drew Epp, 36 years old from Parrish, Florida, suffered from bipolar disorder and paranoid delusions, so the chocolate labrador service dog provided emotional support and confidence to deal with the symptoms of these conditions. That’s why the tragedy that happened on Friday, May 24, was more than Mr. Epp could handle.
The incident happened in Palmetto’s dog park, after Java ran out and got into a hole that another dog had dug. The chocolate-colored labrador emerged from the other side of the fence while Epp ran after her, however there was a swamp and when Java approached it, she was attacked by an alligator.
According to the mother of the deceased, Donna Epp, the alligator tore Java’s neck and when her son finally found her, he run to find veterinary attention. Unfortunately the lab died on the way to the animal hospital.
The tragedy was too much for Drew Epp, who committed suicide the day after Java’s death. His mother found him in the garage, where he spent a lot of time in the company of his best friend.
Upon discovering the body of her son, Mrs. Epp ran to a neighbor’s house to ask for help and try to revive the man. However, upon seeing the body, they realized that it was too late.
The family of the deceased assures that Drew tried to enter a mental health facility, a place to which he had already been admitted in the past. However, the institution said it could not attend until August.
“No one should ever, never be rejected if they are seeking help for a mental illness problem,” said Ms. Epp. “I do not care if you’re 90 or 9. If you’re asking for psychiatric help, you should get it.
Suicide takes more than 800,000 lives each year around the world and is the second cause of death in people aged 15 to 29 years. Mental illnesses are severe and must be treated with the same force as other physical ailments
If you or one of your loved ones is going through a problem that threatens hir or her mental or physical integrity, you can always call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or send a text message to 741-273. This crisis center offers free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
