Sunnyvale, CA – Officers with the Sunnyvale Police Department and other first responders rescued a teenage girl from possible suicide on New Year’s Eve.
The department made the announcement on social media, writing, “The quick thinking and actions of Sunnyvale dispatch, police, and fire personnel helped save the life of a 13 year old girl who was attempting suicide on New Year’s Eve.”
“On 12/31, at around 1:15 a.m., a 911 call was made to Sunnyvale dispatch by a suicidal 13 year old girl from an unknown location. Our dispatcher did an excellent job locating her and quickly dispatching police and fire personnel to her location at the Lakewood Shopper/Lawrence Expressway pedestrian bridge.
Arriving officers found the girl in obvious distress and dangling by her arms from outside the bridge’s protective fence, approximately 30 feet above Lawrence expressway. Officers immediately rushed to her, reached through the wrought iron fence and grabbed ahold of her hands, wrists and arms to prevent her from falling. At one point she let go of one of her arms, officers continued holding on tightly. A firetruck basket was placed directly underneath her to provide additional safety measures had she happened to fall and also to use as a method to help bring her down. Officers were eventually able to talk the girl off the bridge and safely into the basket 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. 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.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ‘1-800-273-TALK (8255)’ 24/7. Free. Confidential.
Crisis Text Line Text “BAY” to 741741 to connect to a trained counselor for free. Confidential. 24/7.”
