Middle School Boys Convince Woman Not To Take Her Own Life While Dangling Off Bridge

Apr 15, 2019 by apost team

Some quick-thinking middle school boys are being hailed as unlikely heroes after saving a woman's life.

The boys are part of a volleyball team in Fresno, California. They showed up for their Saturday morning practice with no clue what the day held in store for them. They began with a run through the neighborhood to warm up their muscles. As they jogged past the Tuolumne Street Bridge, they saw something shocking. A woman was climbing over the railing. The bridge stands 100 feet above railroad tracks. If the woman fell, she'd hit the tracks and almost certainly lose her life.

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It soon became clear that was her plan – she wanted to jump. As she clung to the bridge with her arms, ready to plunge over, the boys rushed to help. Some went back to their coach, yelling for him to call 911. While waiting for rescuers to arrive, they started talking to the woman, hoping to convince her not to jump. The boys called out encouragement, telling the woman that her life's worth living.

The message got through to her. She pulled herself back up the bridge and waited for rescuers to arrive. The woman, age 47, admitted to the police that she'd planned to kill herself. Officers placed her on a 72-hour hold in which doctors will evaluate her mental health. The boys' coach firmly believes that they saved the woman's life. She didn't want to jump while they were there to see her actions.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention lists suicide as the 10th most common cause of death in the U.S. In 2017 alone, more than 1.4 million suicides attempts occurred.

If you or anyone you know suffers from suicidal thoughts, help is out there. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right away.

What do you think about these brave, compassionate young boys? How would you have reacted in their situation? Let us know in the comments and be sure to spread the word about their heroic act!