Heart-stopping footage was captured by a driver on the Verrazano bridge in New York City on Sunday that saw at least seven men including several police officers drag a man back over the ledge fearing he was moments away from jumping.
The minute-long clip begins with a state trooper and a passerby holding onto the 79-year-old man who was determined to throw himself off the 230ft high span.
GifterInGotham reports how it was Sunday driver, Tuli Abraham, who first noticed something was wrong after the car in front of him stopped and a man suddenly got out.
He saw the driver of the Mercedes put on his hazard lights, exit his vehicle and head towards the side of the span and asked the unidentified senior citizen where he was going.
A state trooper driving on the Verrazano Bridge helped save a 79-year-old man from leaping to his death on Sunday afternoon along with a passerby, Tuli Abraham, seen on the right
Tuli Abraham jumped out of his car once he saw the elderly man was going to jump off
‘I am going to jump!’, came the response according to Abraham. ‘Hell no you won’t!’ he replied, at which point Abraham grabbed the man to prevent him from jumping.
By the time Abraham had got over to the side of the bridge, the man had already managed to climb over the metal wall.
Reaching in the space between the bridge’s railing and the concrete barrier, Abraham grabbed the man’s belt with one hand and his jacket with the other.
The jumper tried to free himself and began struggling with Abraham, whose wife in the car called 911 for assistance.
Several cars passed by before Abraham managed to catch the attention of a state trooper who pulled over.
Jumping out of his vehicle to help, the state trooper grabbed the man’s legs to immobilize him and prevent him from potentially pulling his rescuers with him into the water, over 200 feet below.
The dramatic rescue was caught on camera by a driver on the bridge and the trooper and other man could be seen battling with the 79-year-old who was about to commit suicide
Abraham, pictured, held the man by grabbing his belt and his jacket as he tried to break free
Tuli Abraham battled with the jumper but held onto him through his belt and jacket to stop him falling some 230 feet into the waters below and certain death
The gripping footage then begins moments later by which time the State trooper has joined in to help.
In footage of the incident posted to social media, the would-be jumper fights the two men who are doing their best to keep him from going over.
At one point, the trooper can be seen with one foot off the ground as he struggles with the weight involved.
The men struggle to hold the man as one of the officers frantically waves at his approaching colleagues for further help.
A man had already sat on the railings and was preparing to jump when a couple of NYPD officers then showed up to assist the first two
As more police join in the effort to help the man they finally manage to pull him back over
A third officer rushes in to help the other two lift the man back over the safety bar.
A fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh man then rushed into the scene, including a mix of police and good Samaritans.
Together they used their collective strength to haul the man back over the barrier and lie him on the side of the road.
Eventually seven men, a mix of police and good Samaritans, managed to get the suicidal man back onto the road much to the relief of everyone involved
The elderly man is laid carefully on the ground much to the relief of everyone involved
The relief felt by everyone involved was palpable even from simply watching the 1:00 video
The person filming in the car, Tuli Abraham’s wife, could say nothing but ‘oh my God’ as they watched the drama unfold in front of them.
The tremendous relief felt by everyone involved could also be witnessed thanks to the gripping footage.
No sooner had the elderly man been placed gently on the ground, many of the officers simply stood around with their hands on their heads – knowing just how close they had come to a fatal tragedy.
New York State Police and the Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority Police responded and transported the man to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The NYPD Special Operations Bureau took to Twitter later on Sunday, commending those involved in the incident.
“Outstanding job by New York State Trooper Kaye, #NYPD ESU Detective Bonner & Officer Jezycki and good Samaritans rescuing a male that attempted to jump from Verrazano Bridge today.”
For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here
For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here
For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here