Police were able to return a distressed teenage girl to safety after she was found "dangling" from a Sunnyvale bridge on New Year's Eve.
Authorities received a report at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 15 from a 13-year-old girl at an unknown location, who officials described as "suicidal" in their press release. Officials did not reveal what the girl said during the call, however the dispatcher was able to track down and send officers to her location at Lakewood Shopper/Lawrence Expressway pedestrian bridge.
Officers arrived on the scene to find the girl "in obvious distress and dangling by her arms from outside the bridge's protective fence, approximately 30 feet above Lawrence Expressway."
Authorities rushed to the fence and grabbed her hands, arms and wrists to prevent her from falling. At one point, officials said she let go of the fence with one of her arms, but officers continued to hold on "tightly." Officers also placed a fire truck basket underneath the girl as an additional safety measure in case she were to fall.
Eventually, responders were able to "talk her off the bridge" and place her in the basket to bring her to safety and down to awaiting paramedics.
"This situation could have had a horrible ending, a family could have instead received devastating news that their child had taken her own life," officials said in their release. "We are thankful that wasn't the case and we are so proud of the quick thinking and immediate actions of our dispatcher, fire and police personnel. This young girl can now receive the help she needs and we hope she realizes just how valuable her life is."
"If you're depressed and having suicidal ideations and need someone to talk to, please reach out to someone. Your life has value. Reach out to a friend, a family member, a stranger. Reach out to anyone, you're worth it."
If you and or someone you know is depressed or having suicidal thoughts, please call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 for a free, confidential conversation with a professional.
You can also text the word "BAY" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect to a trained counselor for free, which is also available for free 24 hours per day.
Please visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's website here to view a list of available resources.
