Bridge Suicide Foiled

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The University Bridge in Saskatoon

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uploaded by anarkissed

I've been hassled for pausing on the bridge while looking unusual and it's a nuisance. Once when I was very young I was in fact contemplating the dark water below and the police took me for a chat with the psych doctors. Knowing all the right answers I was able to get myself home that evening. While I found these intrusions into my weird personal world somewhat annoying, I did understand the reason. I didn't understand why it mattered or why anyone cared but then, so many people are indoctrinated into the cult of life. That is, life at any cost, hope in any despair, never give up.

So last night they did the usual intrusiveness and created a scene reminiscent of the classic Christmas movie with Jimmy Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life."

Last night some people driving along spotted that one hopeless young man. A man who had gotten so far into his unhappiness that there seemed to be nothing left to enjoy, and he stood on our infamous "suicide bridge," the tallest of our bridges, pondering the frigid water and ice below. These caring people are helpless to fix his life, but they stayed to save it. They stayed, slowed the man down, and called the police. Between them and the police, they managed to catch the young man at the apex of his grief as he began to fall, and hauled him back up onto the bridge.

What will happen next to the man? Only the doctors can say, because he is doubtless laying stupified in a hospital bed with drugs so strong he can't control his facial muscles, while doctors try and convince him it's worth fighting to make a better life for himself, regardless of his trials.

Is it? Well it was for me. But it sure took a long time. Does it really matter? I still don't know. I sure hopes he finds that special faith or clarity to see beyond his self absorbed pain and find the beauty that leaks into even the most dismal dungeons.

Press release below:

Date: December 16, 2009, 12:14 PM
Released By: Cst. TishaRae Stonehouse

On Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 10:30 AM, Saskatoon Police Service Communications received information that a male may be attending the University Bridge in order to cause himself harm.

As a result, police arrived at the University Bridge and spotted a 27 year old male attempting to jump in to the river. SPS members were able to grasp the male's arms just as he was about to fall.

At the same time two motorists stopped their vehicles on the bridge and assisted officers in pulling the man to safety.