By Jim Shay
Connecticut Post
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — State Police say there is a lifeline for people who are considering suicide.
There’s help, just a phone call away, that can save a life.
Troopers are putting out that message following two suicide attempts in less than a week by people planning to jump off highway bridges.
The first attempt happened just before 5:30 p.m. Friday on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven. A video from a dashboard cam in a trooper’s cruiser shows a man standing on I-95 threatening to jump off the bridge.
“Troopers arrived on scene and found the male on the opposite side of a safety wall/barrier. Troopers tried to talk the male to safety, however the male refused and moved closer to the edge in an attempt to jump,” state police posted on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/csptroopg/videos/1863492860537312/
“Trooper First Class Aaron Mathew ran towards the male, jumped over the wall and grabbed the male preventing him from jumping off the bridge. The trooper held the male against the bridge, with no barrier between him and the edge of the bridge, so other troopers, New Haven police officers and New Haven firefighters could pull the male over the wall to safety. Connecticut State Police Trooper 1 helicopter and the United States Coast Guard were also contacted to assist, thankfully their services were not needed.
“The male was transported to the hospital for evaluation and further assistance.”
State police say Mathew “is a first time father-to-be any day now.”
At about 5:45 p.m. Monday, there was another suicide attempt, this time on the Founder’s Bridge in Hartford. Again, troopers came to the rescue.
“Troop H- Hartford responded to the area of the Founders Bridge Pedestrian walkway for a female threatening to harm herself. Troopers responded to the scene and observed the female sitting on the walkway with her feet dangling in the water of the Connecticut River behind the Connecticut Science Center.
As a trooper was making his way down to the shore, he heard a splash and saw the female jump into the Connecticut River. The female swam further into the river and was neck deep when the current caught her and began to carry her downstream. One trooper climbed over the walkway railing and entered the water while three other troopers formed a chain, by locking arms, and waded waist deep (at least 1 remained on shore) into the water. A trooper in the water was able to grab onto the female and pull her to shore.
Once the, now semi-conscious, female was brought to shore the four troopers carried her up the stairs to waiting EMS and Hartford FD who provided medical care. The female was transported to Hartford Hospital for evaluation.
State police say there are people ready to help those who are considering ending their lives.
“Speak up and reach out,” say state police.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is the United States based suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
After dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the caller is routed to their nearest crisis center to receive immediate counseling and local mental health referrals. The Lifeline supports people who call for themselves or someone they care about.
Copyright 2017 Connecticut Post, Bridgeport