CALAVERAS COUNTY, Calif. — A man was saved by law enforcement after attempting to jump off a bridge early Monday morning in Tuolomne County.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office said they got a tip about a man threatening to jump off a local bridge just after midnight, according to a Facebook post.
Deputies found the man's car near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge at around 3 a.m., but the man was nowhere to be found. Law enforcement found the man at about 10 a.m. standing on the Parrotts Ferry Bridge.
"I tried to talk him down, get to know the guy," Corporal Andrew Long said.
Cpl. Long, with the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, attempted to talk the man down from the bridge for about 10 minutes, according to the Facebook post.
He said that he had experience in mental health training, but had never dealt with someone attempting to jump off a bridge before.
When the man tried to jump from the bridge, Cpl. Long caught the man through the railing on the bridge and "was able to hold the man as he dangled for approximately 30 seconds," the post says.
"The only thing I could think of was, 'I need to do whatever I can do to help this guy and help him with the situation he's going through," Cpl. Long said.
Cpl. Long was able to pull the man back to safety with the help of other law enforcement officers. The man was taken to a hospital with no injuries.
"I actually had a broken thumb that day, which didn't help me trying to grip onto his arm," Cpl. Long said. "It was adrenaline that enabled me to do that. I was very lucky we had other deputies and volunteers to assist me in holding the guy."
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office thanked all of the law enforcement agencies and personnel that helped with the rescue today.
"Your bravery, dedication and persistence saved a life."
Mental Health Resources
- Services: Provides mental health resources and 24-hour crisis line.
- Phone: (209) 533-7000
- Services: Provides support groups and educational classes for people with mental illness, family members and the general public.
- Phone: (209) 586-9351
The state of California created a guide to help people manage stress during COVID-19.
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