Tacoma Narrows Jumper Saved By Deputy, Good Samaritan

GIG HARBOR, WA - A man ready to commit suicide by jumping off the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was stopped over the weekend by a Pierce County deputy and a Good Samaritan. The man told police after the incident he would have jumped if not for their intervention.

The incident happened Saturday evening along the eastbound lanes of the bridge. Several people called 911 to report a man who had climbed over the railing and appeared ready to jump. The deputy was first on the scene, and he joined a passerby who had stopped to talk to the man.

Both the deputy and the passerby continued talking to the man, approaching him as they did. Once close enough, the deputy grabbed the man's arm, and the passerby grabbed the other. They held onto the man until Gig Harbor police arrived to help pull the man to safety.

On Tuesday night, a 66-year-old woman from Tacoma was able to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge. That incident happened around 8 p.m. Tuesday in the eastbound lanes.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there is help available. Call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text the suicide hotline by sending TALK to 741741.

Image via Shutterstock