Cops and Samaritans Join Forces to Save Woman Planning to Jump from Bridge
Tragedy averted. There can be so much of what is good in the world wrapped up in just two words. Tragedy averted.
That’s what happened in Collier County, Florida, according to WBBH-TV, when Collier County deputies and good Samaritans teamed together to save the life of a woman standing on a bridge facing a life crisis.
“‘It feels good. It’s just us doing our jobs. To the best of our ability and what we thought was the best decision at that moment with what we had,’ said Officer Rebecca Maciques, one of the responding two life-saving deputies.”
Around 6:45pm this past Tuesday, Collier County police responded to a report of a woman standing outside the fencing guard on the overpass threatening to jump.
The Good Samaritan and one deputy were able to reach through the fence and hold onto her as she tried to break free. Determined to jump, the woman struggled against her hopeful rescuers.
A trucker stopped and parked his box truck beneath the woman in crisis. Other deputies and more bystanders were then able to assist the distraught woman to make a safe fall off the bridge into the waiting care of first responders.
The first responders then transported her to a nearby medical facility for evaluation and to receive professional help to address her crisis.
“‘When the community comes together when someone was having a crisis, actually work together to try and help her get through that moment instead of standing by, and watching, they helped us out that day. That means a Lot. I’m really proud to be part of a community that is like that,’ said Cpl. James Sheran, the first Collier County Sheriff’s Deputy on the scene.”
Video footage of the woman’s attempt to jump from the bridge and the teamwork to save her were captured and shared in this news report along with the deputies’ personal accounts of the incident.
They told reporter Ryan Arbogast it was “a miracle that she made it out alive.”
Deputies were fearful, not only for the woman’s life, but also for the drivers on I-75 below. The officers extended their thanks to all the civilians who cooperated with them to save this woman’s life and potentially the lives passing beneath the overpass.
It was truly a community effort that resulted in one woman experiencing a second chance at life.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
