Man saved from committing suicide
With no thought for his own safety, Arlow dove forward, grabbing the man before he could jump.
A man was rescued in the nick of time on May 27 when he attempted to take his own life by jumping off the bridge on Ontdekkers Road, where it crosses over the N1.
According to Hennie Arlow from EC Security, a call came through over their networks that a man was precariously positioned on Millward Road over the N1 in Maraisburg.
Also read: N1 South to Maraisburg Road closed due to diesel spillage
“I responded, but could not find the person,” says Arlow, who adds that he was relieved when it appeared that the information was false.
“I found myself on Ontdekkers Road near Arthur Matthews School a short while later when the call came through that the man was now on Ontdekkers Road.
“I immediately rushed there and found the man standing on the wrong side of the barrier, with a bystander and an employee of ER24 trying to talk him down.
“As I approached, the volatility of the situation dawned on me and I realised I would not be able to effectively grab hold of the man while wearing my bulky bulletproof vest – not without possibly going over with him.
“In the few seconds it took me to take it off, the man, now holding onto the barrier with his hands, leaned far out over the highway, and I realised he was about to let go.
“One of the people there managed to distract him just long enough for me to dive forward and get my arms around him, and jerk him back over the barrier.”
Arlow says he detained the man, who seemed to slowly calm down as an ER24 first responder spoke to him.
“He seemed to have calmed down, so I let go of him while the first responders were busy with him.
“The man suddenly dove for the barrier again, and without thinking, I tackled him and held him.”
Arlow says it was clear the man was undergoing a psychotic episode.
“Just in the time we were speaking to him, we noticed at least three ‘personalities’.”
After the incident, just before he was loaded into the ambulance, he seemed to suddenly come to his senses, and he asked what was going on.
“He could scarcely believe his ears when we told him we had saved him from committing suicide.”
The man was taken to Helen Joseph Hospital, where he was admitted to the psychiatric ward.
“It’s only afterwards that the reality of what just happened, and how close of a call it was, dawns on you,” says Arlow.
“I’m just thankful that we were able to save him.”
