AT A time when young people are leaving Facebook in droves citing lack of security, rigid censorship and too many arguments, it’s comforting to know that the social media tool can achieve something amazing.

Last week I was browsing Facebook and a status popped up from an acquaintance whose acerbic scribblings always make me laugh out loud. This man is so funny he deserves his own chat show. But this post wasn’t amusing. It was heartbreaking.

He’d said goodbye to his partner and beloved dog that morning and taken himself off to a secret location with a bottle of vodka and a lethal dose of drugs he’d bought from the internet. There was no explanation as to why.

The first poster wondered if it was a joke – after all, he’s well known for his funny statuses. I didn’t, and an overwhelming sense of panic set in. I’d been down this road twice before in my life and men don’t usually cry for help. They just sign out.

A flurry of posts appeared, people were terrified but powerless to know what to do. Someone sent him a message to which he replied. Unbeknown to him it revealed his location which the friend posted on Facebook. Another looked up the postcode. Another called the police and his best friend got in her car and drove as fast as she could.

The location was a hotel, so while one friend was talking to the police, I took it upon myself to call the hotel.

It was an 0800 number and it seemed like I was waiting an age to go through the various options before I finally reached a human voice. Trying not to sound like some hysterical prank caller, I explained to the woman exactly what I knew.

She calmly looked through the guest list, confirmed he was there and went off to check on him.

He had in fact taken the pills and although he tried to convince her he was fine, she took matters in her own hands and stayed with him until the police and ambulance arrived. He was taken to hospital, according to his best friend.

And that’s the last I heard until I saw a status a couple of days later thanking everybody who had played a part in saving his life.

It made me cry.

The wonderful thing about this story is that without technology, friendship and people working together this man would probably be dead when all he needs is some professional help.

If he ever doubted that he was loved, then the proof was there for all to see. And that is surely one reason to live when despair gets a grip. I loathe Facebook at times, I really do. But my faith in it as a means of communication has been well and truly restored.And she listened. Thank God.