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Around 1 a.m. on April 24, semi-truck drivers in the Oak Park area of Michigan got a call from area police: An unknown man was standing on a the end of a local bridge, apparently. ready to jump on the highway below.
Those drivers did an amazing job. They raced to the scene to help – and lined up their trucks under the bridge, giving them a safe place to land if the man jumped.
Fortunately, he didn’t.
The impressive performance was no accident – the drivers were well prepared for this very situation. Sgt. Jason Brockdorff of the Huntington Woods Police Department told the Detroit News responding is something police officers and truck drivers are actually trained for. But what was It is unusual for many drivers to respond to the call.
“That’s a model we use when we jump,” Brockdorff said. “We try to do it every time, to reduce the distance someone has to travel when jumping, fortunately that did not happen.”
It was nearly a four hour standoff, until dawn. However, when the vehicles were there, the police were able to negotiate with the unknown man.
The man later walked off the bridge on his own and is now receiving medical attention.
In a pair of tweets, the local police department shared the incident to remind people in similar situations of the importance of seeking mental health care (emphasis mine):
This film shows the work of soldiers and local officials to serve the public. But also in that picture there is a man who is struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember that help is available at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can also call a loved one, a member of the clergy or 911. There are many people who can help you make the decision to get help and live it! We hope to never see another film like this again.
By working together, the police and strangers saved a life every day.
Ordinary people accepted the call of service to help a fellow human being who was struggling. It is a powerful image that cannot be ignored, and is a reminder of humanity at its best.
This article was originally published on 04.24.18