.
.
|
12.30.08: save, male |
thank you, jumpnews
reporters:
12.30.08, zolter, Largo, 12.30.08, 1:00pm, male), Male sitting on wall with one leg over. After 20 min, removed and
detained
12.30.08, Roger W., (12.30.08, 1:00pm), While driving
southbound around 1:00 - 1:00PM saw a white pickup with the door open and a
state highway patrol car with the trooper and one male looking over the bridge.
01.03.09, Yokel, SE Minnesota, (12.30.08, 1:00pm, male), I like to visit
bridges (weird hobby, I know), so I was excited to go across the Skyway when I
was in Tampa for a family event this past week. My family was nice enough to
humor me by driving me over the bridge for no particular reason.
So, as
we're going over on Tuesday suddenly traffic in front of us starts coming to an
abrupt halt...luckily there were no rear end collisions. I was well aware of the
suicide history, so thought it was going to be a jumper. Sure enough, a few feet
up there was a state trooper and a young guy straddling the rail with one foot
over the edge. Nice, late model truck with a Tampa Bay Bucs sticker on the back.
By the time we got back over the bridge, traffic was shut down and there were
several cops holding the guy down.
The three kids in our car had just been
treated to the sight of a body lying on the Frankland bridge from a motorcycle
wreck the day before...we didn't have good luck with bridges on this trip.
Seriously though, I've got to say that a
suicide barrier would do a lot
to protect the safety of motorists as well as potential jumpers. One of these
days there's going to be one hell of a wreck after some rubbernecker slams on
his brakes to get a good look at some despondent soul taking a header into Tampa
Bay.
any more info
is welcome. |
12.30.08,
tampabay.com, Threatened suicide closes Skyway for nearly an hour
The Sunshine Skyway has reopened after south bound lanes shut down for
nearly an hour today as a man threatened to jump from the bridge.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Joel Granata
said the agency received multiple calls reporting a man with one leg over the
guardrail. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper talked the man out of jumping.
Granata said the first call came in about 1
p.m. and the bridge reopened at 1:46 p.m.
The
man was taken into custody under the Baker Act and transported to a medical
facility for evaluation.
Austin Bogues, Times
staff writer
|
.
| 12.27.08: possible jumper, 11:30am, female |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.27.08, Alex R., Bradenton,
FL., (12.27.08, 11:30am,
female, used phones: no), I saw a
female stopped southbound at the top of the bridge @ 11:30 this morning as
I was traveling northbound. She was looking over the edge so I had my son
call 911. Does anyone know if the emergency crews arrived in time? My
children were with me and we are all concerned for this woman. Any news?
Seemed like forever before we saw the emergency vehicles even though it
was only @ 3 - 4 minutes. Has anyone heard anything else?
(yours is the first report of this maybe jumper. hopefully it's not what
you thought it was.)
12.31.08, anon, Tampa, Fl., (12.27.08, 11:30am,
female), I work in EMS in
the local area that responds to the Skyway and when EMS got onscene the
car and woman had already left the scene. The only thing we can think is
that she changed her mind and family and friends have helped her in her
hard time.
(then she is indeed a lucky one. thank you.)
01.02.09, Alex R., Bradenton, FL., Thank you
so much for the response. I do hope the sirens (as there were many) made her
think twice. Really appreciate you answering and letting me know that she left
the scene. You all responded very quickly and obviously saved her.
any
more info
is welcome. |
.
|
12.26.08: save, male |
thank you, jumpnews
reporter:
12.27.08, Baron, Bradenton, Fl., (12.26.08, 4:55pm), As I
traveled northbound over the highpoint of the Skyway, there were three vehicles
pulled off in the far right emergency lane, a marked highway patrol sedan with
blue lights flashing, an unmarked white or silver colored sedan with blue lights
flashing, and another large sedan ahead of these two cars that was empty, no
driver, no passenger. As I passed these three cars, I glanced in my rearview
mirror and noticed a smaller economy type car pulling over behind the other
three. Lord Bless |
12.27.08,
tampabay.com,
Timely talk on Skyway averts suicide attempt, By Stephanie Garry and Jamal Thalji, Times staff
writers
ST. PETERSBURG — Fire-Rescue Lt. Brad Dykens has lost count of the
times he's arrived too late when someone wants to die.
The paramedic and
crisis counselor has pulled onto the Sunshine Skyway bridge before, only to
learn that a person already has plunged to the water 197 feet below.
But on
Friday — the day after Christmas — he left work feeling ecstatic. He and Florida
Highway Patrol Sgt. Jorge Santamaria had talked a 55-year-old man down from the
Skyway, which is one of the most used bridges for suicide in the nation.
"Sometimes it's too late," Dykens said. "This time I'm happy to say we were
there on time."
• • •
About 3:50 p.m. Friday, authorities received reports
that a man had parked his white Grand Marquis on the bridge. Callers said he was
leaning over the railing. He appeared to be praying.
In his eight years in
counseling, Dykens said, he has helped probably a half-dozen suicidal people.
But only once before had he saved a Skyway jumper, though that rescue had more
to do with quick reflexes than persuasive talk. The man actually jumped, but
Dykens and others grabbed his hair, arm and belt and flopped him back to safety.
"It wasn't pretty, but it was effective," said Dykens, a 24-year Fire Rescue
veteran. "There's nothing more disconcerting than looking past his feet and
seeing the abyss below. It's a long way down."
• • •
At first, the
would-be jumper on Friday said he was praying for another man who plummeted from
the bridge Christmas Eve. Then he admitted he was despondent, especially about
Christmas. When Dykens asked about his holiday, the man answered with a stream
of expletives. Dykens tried to listen.
He never found out where the man was
from or why he was so upset. Counselors know it's not wise to ask for details;
it will only make the person feel worse.
Dykens typically uses a familiar
line with people considering suicide: "You're choosing a permanent solution for
a temporary problem."
But the man on Friday stepped away from the side before
Dykens even could use the line. He didn't want to jump.
He said the man gave
a half-hearted thank you as he agreed to go with a trooper to the hospital for
mental evaluation under Florida's Baker Act.
Dykens counts it as a victory, a
nice change in what's been a tragic December for the Skyway, with three people
jumping to their deaths in the past three weeks.
Dykens knows the holidays
are hard for many people. He encourages people to reach out to friends or
acquaintances who seem down. A small compliment or an inquiry into how they're
doing can make a difference, he said. "I truly felt like I saved a life today,"
Dykens said. "That's more than any money can pay me doing this job."
(it's nice to see a detailed story. usually when they
jump, it's more like "suicide guy ties up traffic on the skyway" and then right
into some politically correct bullshit no one needs to read anyway.)
(thanks
to
Terri S., Riverview, Fl..
any more info is welcome.) |
12.26.08,
Amanda L. S., fbpda.org,
Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association, (12.26.08, 3:30pm), I think
that it's very important to know that holding someone under the
Baker Act
for a few hours or couple of days does not equate to getting any sort of
meaningful psychiatric help. Persons with severe mental illness are treated much
differently than those who go to the emergency room. Mental illness is still
seen as something that people have full control over and that suicide attempts
are selfish and an attempt to manipulate or control others. Those who are Baker
Acted and are still suicidal are forced to lie or make promises that they will
refrain from acts of self-harm in order to be released. This, of course,
increases the stigma and shame surrounding mental illness. Thank you for listing
names of persons who have taken their own lives as well as giving a people a
forum to discuss their grief.
(while not all suicide attempts "are
selfish and an attempt to manipulate or control others", some are.
this, however, does not negate the need for help for these individuals.)
12.27.08, Lily, St. Petersburg, FL., Way to go Brad Dykens and Jorge
Santamaria!!! There has been way tooooo many suicides from that bridge lately!!!
Hats off to a good save!!! |
.
12.23.08: jumper, 4:36am, male, no phones, hit water, died, body found same day
Victor David Stephens,
30 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.23.08,
we heard about this jumper on
wwba-am
during the
mark
larsen show. 4:30am, left a dodge charger on the
bridge.
12.23.08, steve, palmetto,
(12.23.08, 4:45am), possible jumper
12.23.08, Adam, St. Pete, FL.,
(12.23.08, 6:30am), My partner said there were 5 HSCO officers with lights on at the top of the skyway this AM around 6:30 when he passed by. Not sure if there was an abandoned car or not.
12.23.08, Mark, Tampa, FL., (12.23.08, 6:00am), Driving southbound across the bridge at 6:26 AM and there were 3 cop cars at the top as well as a newer silver Dodge Charger with it's hazards on. There was a boat in the water with blue flashers and a helicopter running search patterns wiht the search light. They were well south of the bridge so depending on the current, I assume that the jump occurred much earlier.
12.23.08, zolter, largo, fl., (12.23.08, 4:36am, male, no phones, hit water, died), Fire Rescue searched water and was unable to find jumper. Fire Department responded back just after noon and was called to a body in the bay. Jumper pronounced at 12:40pm. Drivers license left in the car was for a 30 year old black male.
12.30.08, mc, Tampa, Fl., (12.23.08, 3:23am), I'm literally sick to my
stomach right now. I heard about this site a couple of weeks ago regarding
other "jumpers". My job requires me to drive over the skyway virtually
every night. On this particular night, a silver charger passed me while I
was in the right lane, ascending the southbound bridge. It got in front of
me, put on its hazards, coasted to the apex of the bridge, and then pulled
to the far right side away from the lane... Then it stopped.
A voice in
my head said: "he's going to jump..." I couldn't tell if the driver was
male or female as the windows were either tinted, or glare prevented me
from identifying the person. But based on the way the car was driven up
the bridge, I assumed it was a guy.
I wanted to stop, but I kept hoping
that this person (whose car was in immaculate condition) had some sane
reason for stopping his vehicle at the top of the skyway at 3:30am. Yeah,
I'm feeling REAL stupid right now.
So great was my intuition that the
person was going to jump (even though my rationalizations overcame it),
that I made it a point to take note of the time as I descended the bridge.
I enjoyed my Christmas time off thereafter. Had a great time this past
weekend. I had completely forgotten about the whole incident... until last
night someone told me that three people "jumped" last week. The image of
that shiny new car burst back into my mind, and I rushed home after work
to check this site; only to find the very words that I dreaded to see...
"Silver Dodge Charger".
any more info
is welcome. |
12.23.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
ABANDONED VEHICL 1 SKYWAY BG 0435 0751
12.23.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff: SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1233 1239
(this is odd, a possible attempt almost 8 hours after the previous service
call? that and it only lasted 6 minutes.
who knows what this is all
about? thank you, Sarah A. in Happyville, FL.) |
12.23.08,
tampabays10.com, Skyway victim identified, Tampa, Florida --
Authorities have identified the body of a man pulled from the waters under
the Skyway Bridge today. He was Victor David Stephens, 30, of
[address withheld], Bradenton. The victim's
vehicle was discovered parked on top of the Skyway Bridge before dawn. The
death has been classified a possible suicide, according to the
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. (possible
suicide? the guy park's his car, ends up in the water below, and it's a
"possible suicide"? mr. obvious, party of one, your table is ready. why
have the recent "news" reports been so fraught with weak writing? then
again, maybe the guy stopped to do a little fishing and a big one pulled him off the
bridge. yeah, that's it, sorry for being accusatory.)
12.24.08,
bradenton.com, Bradenton man jumps from Skyway Bridge,
By ROBERT NAPPER
HILLSBOROUGH — Authorities say a Bradenton man jumped from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Tuesday in an apparent suicide.
The U.S. Coast Guard found the body of David Stephens, 30, of
[address withheld] in Tampa Bay, according to Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office officials.
A search began after Florida Highway Patrol troopers found Stephen’s empty car at 4:30 a.m. at the top of the bridge. Stephen’s body was found later in the day, Hillsborough Sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
Sheriff’s officials have been in contact with Stephen’s family, but it is unclear why he jumped from the bridge, Carter said.
“It is difficult sometimes to find out why. It is always sad when something like this happens,” she said. |
| 12.21.08: possible jumper, 6:20pm, male |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.22.08, Marc, st petersburg, fl., (12.21.08, 6:20pm, male), I was driving northbound when i saw a guy on a scooter pull off to the right at the very top of the bridge. Im not sure if he jumped or not because i was starting to drive down the bridge and lost him in my rear view mirror but when i passed by the toll booth on the pinellas side there where two emergency vehicles. One was a Fire Truck and one an Ambulance. Im wondering if there is anyone behind me that saw the end of what happened.
12.22.08,
Suzi W., Oldsmar, I too was northbound and saw the guy. The scooter was parked at the top and he was standing & looking over the edge.. I said "God, Please don't let him jump!". I has a very sick feeling in my stomach when I saw Fire rescue with the boat in tow. I felt so terrible about not stopping. I had my two daughter's with me. They are devistated to think that that young man took his life last night. I searched in tha paper & listened to tv for news but have heard nothing
(sorry you had to see this man in what may be his last moment. most
jumpers are not reported. we will post anything more here.)
any more info
is welcome. |
12.15.08: jumper,
4:55pm, male, hit water, died, body found same day
Alfredo Granaiola, 42 |
| warning: |
|
if you
do not want to read
explicit and graphic details of
Alfredo Granaiola's last moments,
leave this page now.
you can skip the graphic details and read site
visitor's comments here. |
|
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.15.08, steve, palmetto, fl., (12.15.08,
05:00pm)
12.15.08, Mark, Tampa, FL.,
(12.15.08, 5:00pm), Coming north today arouond 5 PM and there were 3 cars stopped on top of the north bound side. One unoccupied, one girl looking over the barrier - looked to be crying and one car occupied. Passed the southbound rescue units as they were going through toll plaza. One SPB rescue unit had boat in tow.
12.15.08, Zolter, Largo, (12.15.08, 4:55pm, male, water, died), PCFD dispatch
12.16.08, di, clearwater, (12.15.08, 5:00pm, male, died), I was on my way home from work and saw a car at the top of the Skyway with it's emergency blinkers on. By the time I crossed the bridge, there were already three sheriff's cars at the scene. A story today in the St. Pete Times confirmed there was a jumper.
12.16.08, Danielle, I was driving home from ellenton mall with my mom and sister and we saw the
woman talking to the police around 5:30.
12.17.08, GEOFF G., TAMPA, I AM THE BOATER WHO PICKED ALFREDO
GRANIOLA, AGE 42 OUT OF THE WATER. I KNOW HIS NAME BECAUSE I
HAD TO WAIT 3 HOURS TO TALK TO EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA. AND THE SHERIFF TOLD ME . AT FIRST I WANTED TO KNOW WHY HE WOULD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT . IF HE HAD A FAMILY. BY THE WAY HE WAS DRIVING HIS
GIRLFRIENDS CAR. I HOPE I DONT HURT ANYONES FEELINGS . BUT I HONESTLY
NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE. I SAW THE LAST 100 FOOT OF HIS HEAD
FIRST DIVE . AND IT DIDNT LOOK THAT BAD.I KEPT WAITING FOR HIM TO SURFACE
. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS . I REALIZED HE WASNT COMING UP. I TRIED TO PULL
MY ANCHOR BUT IT WAS STUCK. I ALMOST SANK MY BOAT TRYING TO HELP THIS GUY.
BUT IT IS NOW OBVIOUS HE DIDNT WANT HELP. HE SOUNDED LIKE A BIRD. IT WASNT
A SCREAM OF "IVE DONE IT". IT WAS MORE LIKE WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I DONE. SO
AFTER ABOUT 30 MORE SECONDS I TOLD CODY TO CUT THE LINE. HE HIT THE WATER
ABOUT 20 YARDS FROM MY BOAT . IRONICLY I HAD 1 SHRIMP LEFT AND WAS ABOUT
TO LEAVE. AS WE GOT TO WHERE HE WENT IN MY BUDDYS LIKE THERE HE IS. ABOUT
10 FEET BEHIND THE BOAT . I SLAMMED IT INTO REVERSE. STALLED THE ENGINE .
AND THE LADY AT THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE WAS SCREMING DOWN AT US . LIKE I WAS
AN IDIOT . I WANTED TO TELL HER TO JUMP IN IF SHE WANTED TO HELP. WHEN WE
GOT TO HIM IT WAS ABOUT 3 MINUTES TOTAL . HE WAS FACE DOWN. IT TOOK ALL
THREE OF US TO GET HIM IN THE BOAT. HE FELT LIKE HE WEIGHED 300LBS . BUT
HE WAS ABOUT 180. HE HAD A PERFECT BLACK CIRCLE ON TOP OF HIS HEAD . AGAIN
IT DIDNT LOOK THAT BAD. WHEN WE GOT HIM ABOARD HE KINDA MOVED A LITTLE
BIT. SO I THOUGHT I COULD SAVE HIM . HE HAD FOAM COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH
AND NOSE . BUT I ATTEMPTED CPR ANYWAY . IT WAS ABSOLUTLEY THE NASTIEST
THING I HAVE EVER DONE . IF YOU HAVE NEVER TRIED TO PERFORM CPR ON SOMEONE
WHO ACTUALLY NEEDS IT. ILL TRY AND EXPLAIN . WHEN I BLEW IN HIS MOUTH HIS
CHEEKS BLEW OUT THEN HIS CHEST BLEW UP EASIER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE.
AGAIN I KEPT THINKING HE WAS GONNA BE OK, MY BUDDY WAS ON THE PHONE WITH
911 WHILE I WAS TRYING TO REVIVE HIM. BY THE WAY HE THREWUP IN MY MOUTH IN
BETWEEN BREATHS. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP GOING . THEY WANTED US TO
GO TO ONIELS. BUT THERES A LITTLE PIECE OF SHORE RIGHT BEFORE THE FISHING
PIER SO I RAN MY BOAT AGROUND . WE CARRIED HIM UP TO THE SHORE SO THE
PARAMEDICS COULD WORK ON HIM. THEY PERFORMED CPR FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES.
SHOCKED HIM. THEN INJECTED HIM WITH SOME KINDA EFENEROL OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT .THEY PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD . COVERED HIM WITH A YELLOW SHEET AND THAT
WAS THAT. WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 3 HOURS WAITING FOR A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
DETECTIVE. WICH WAS RIDICULOUS. I DO NOT KNOW WHY GOD PICKED ME TO GO THRU
THIS BUT HE DID. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU GET OUT OF
THIS WEBSITE, BUT TO EACH HIS OWN. IF YOU EVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO YOU . I
BELIEVE YOU WOULD LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY. I AM A PRETTY TOUGH GUY AND IT
IS REALLY BOTHERING ME . WHAT IF I HAD CUT MY ANCHOR SOONER. WHAT IF MY
MOTOR HAD NOT OF DIED WITHIN 10 FEET OF HIM. HOWEVER I DO TAKE SOLACE IN
KNOWING HE DIDNT DROWN. THAT BLACK CIRCLE (at this
point, our news input form was full. geoff returned
the next day and continues) ON TOP OF HIS HEAD. AFTER THEY REMOVED THE PLASTIC SHEET , TO TAKE HIS BODY AWAY. WAS ACCTUALLY A RUT IN THE TOP OF HIS HEAD . WHILE I WAS GIVING HIM CHEST COMPRESSIONS I COULD FEEL THE BOTTOM 2 OR THE RIBS MOVING SO I HAD TO GO HIGHER UP. NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE HIS LIFE THAT DAY . HE IMPACTED MINE FOREVER . THANK GOD THE ONLY TIME I HAVENT TAKEN MY 4 YR OLD SON WITH ME FISHING WAS THAT TRAGIC DAY. I DONT KNOW HOW I WOULD EXPLAIN IT. OR IF I EVEN WOULD . MABE LIKE THE FISH WE CATCH. HE JUST GOT DEAD.IN HINDSIGHT I COMMEND YOUR WEBSITE. IT HAS REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THIS SORT OF THING. IN A VERY MACABE WAY IT IS INTERESTING. SAD BUT INTERESTING . THE POLICE TOLD ME THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WOULD BE WORSE. I HAVE LOOKED UP EVERYTHING SKYWAY RELATED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS SIGHT IS ABSOLUTLEY THE BEST. THANX FOR LETTING ME VENT . P.S. IF YOU ARE GOING FISHING AT THE SKYWAY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. DONT STAY OUTTA THE CHANNEL CAUSE THE COASTGAURD TELLS YOU TO. YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!
(we thank you for your touching
story and for coming back to complete it. your tried attempt to save this man is commendable, as well as
perhaps the most dangerous thing you have ever done. giving mouth-to-mouth
to a stranger that is expelling foam from his mouth, then puking into
yours, is something we would never do. the guy
jumped from the bridge and, as you could actually feel for yourself,
was battered inside to a point he was most likely going to die anyway. how
do we know this? because we have run this jumper site for 10+ years and
what we get out of it is the fact that when you hit the water head first like that,
it's common that it does not kill you instantly. read
this short description of
what water impact is all about. would we want to save the guy? sure, we're
not monsters. we would do whatever we could, short of inhaling his foamy
mucous and stomach contents. however, we would immediately understand it was his desire to end his
own
life. he didn't just accidently fall off the bridge. he
jumped deliberately in order to die. try to not beat yourself up about
this experience. you went over the top and did the best you could under
the circumstances and definitely more than most anyone else would have done. this man's eventual demise
was not by your hand, it was
by his. thankfully, your young son was not involved in your tragic day.
no telling what drove that man to end his life in a way that will effect
you forever, just be
thankful you have a life to live and a son to share it with. thanks again, geoff, for your efforts and compelling story.)
now we vent: someone out there give geoff the
autopsy report so he can see that he did all he could to try and save a
man that was doomed to an excruciating death anyway. just one time we'd like
a complete autopsy report of a jumper to post on this site. if you suicide
prevention professionals and jumperpool
detractors really want to hit these potential jumpers with a deterrent to
jumping, we
challenge you to show what jumping off that damn bridge will do to their
bodies. pictures of displaced and torn organs and shattered bones with vivid descriptions are
always welcome here. you can try to hide
suicide from people and not talk about it, but if you really want to drive
it home to a suicidal person, step up with the truth and reality of what
happens to the human body when it slams into water and scrambles their
insides. scaring the shit out of them will no doubt work much better then
the years of trying to shut this site down and the decades of keeping
quiet about suicide. 2008 is turning out to be another record year for skyway
jumping. your efforts do not work and it's time to try another way. maybe
replace the crisis phones with graphic autopsy pictures and descriptions. you people are
fail and if you truly want to help, step the
hell up or shut the hell up.
any
more info
is welcome. |
12.15.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1712 2110
12.17.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
press release: Alfredo Granaiola, dob: 09/16/66,
[address withheld] Tampa, suicide, December 15, 2008
at 5:00 p.m., Skyway Bridge, Deputies responded to the Skyway Bridge this afternoon
at approximately 5:00 p.m. in reference to a suicide. Shortly after
deputies arrived they were informed that a body was recovered by the
Florida Highway Patrol that had jumped from the Skyway Bridge. The victim
was deceased at the scene.
|
12.15.08,
tampabay.com,
Skyway suicide victim ties up traffic
ST. PETERSBURG -- A man jumped off the Skyway Bridge just before rush hour, according to St. Petersburg authorities.
His body was discovered by boaters under the bridge who pulled his body abroad. Rescue workers attempted CPR on him but he died on the scene, said Lt. Joel Granata, with St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue.
Traffic was backed up on the north side of the bridge at about 5 p.m. as a result. The man was wearing a green shirt and tan pants, said Bill Proffitt, St. Petersburg police spokesman. There was no information on his identity.
Nicole Hutcheson, Times Staff Writer (we have this story
from geoff, above, and what does the newspaper focus on? "suicide victim ties
up traffic". that's some stellar reporting.) the site then replaced this
report with the following one three days later, sans traffic report.:
12.18.08,
tampabay.com,
Monday's Skyway suicide victim identified
ST. PETERSBURG -- The man who jumped off the Sunshine Skyway during rush hour Monday afternoon has been identified as 42-year-old Alfredo Granaiola of Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Granaiola of [address withheld],
was found by boaters who pulled his body aboard from under the bridge. Rescue workers attempted CPR but Granaiola died at the scene, said Lt. Joel Granata of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.
Nicole Hutcheson and Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer |
12.17.08, A friend, Tampa, Florida, Please remove the description from Geoff of this jumper. It will completely devestate his family if they read it. PLEASE!!!
(geoff's story needs to be told. how many times has this story happened,
yet no one can read it because it hasn't been told? people need to read it
and understand the consequences of jumping off the bridge. while we
understand the family may not like it, it will remain and perhaps smack
some reasoning into a potential jumper that just may read it. the true
devastation came when he jumped off the bridge. he devastated his family
and friends. he devastated geoff. he no doubt devastated any number of
first responders that came to the scene. we can not in good conscience
hide the facts so poignantly told. if anyone can be helped with the
telling of his story, it's geoff himself. he
was dealt a hand no one would volunteer for. this is the only place where he
can get this out and start his own healing. the newspapers sure as hell
won't publish it. no one will ever see this type of story unless we post
it here. please tell the family to stay away
from this site. stress to them the fact that if they do not want
to read the details of what really happened, they need to stay off this
site. they must not
search for answers here, unless they want to find them. the following
responses to geoff's story, proves it needed telling.)
12.17.08, Rae, Tampa, Florida, I am writing to Geoff who was the boater who found the body and performed CPR 12-15-08 on Alfredo. First of all I am so sorry for what you went through that day and what you may never erase from your memory. I am a close friend of the family of the man who jumped that day and I want you to know that he was one of the kindest most gentle family man I have known. He has a beautiful family, loving wife, wonderful son & daughter both under the age of 11 and elderly parents that he loved very much. He attended church regularly and had been to services the day before he jumped. He had a good job and all was well at work as far as we know. I am not aware of any girlfriend but his wife kept her maiden name. This is a terrible tragedy for all who knew him, especially his wife and children. This is a mystery to all at this time. I hope this information will help fill in some of the blanks for you. I want to thank you for trying to save him and ask that you now pray for his family!
(we are truly sorry you lost your friend. suicide is
a tragic event for any family and we hope they cope.)
geoff responds
here:
12.18.08, GEOFF G., TAMPA,
THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING RAE. I ABSOLUTLEY KNEW HE
WAS A WONDERFUL MAN . THE WAY HE WAS DRESSED . JUST HIS WHOLE AUORA. I
WENT FISHING TODAY. JUST TO FORCE MYSELF TO RETURN TO THAT SPOT . AND KNOW
IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN . IT IS MY FAVORITE FISHING SPOT IN THE WHOLE
WORLD. IT WAS A VERY SUCCESFUL DAY. IN MY HEAD I WAS THINKING IT WAS JUST
FATE. AFTER FISHING FOR ABAOUT 3 HOURS WE WERE HEADED BACK. APPROXIMATLEY
4 O CLOCK . I LOOKED AT WERE ALFREDO WAS DELIVERED TO THE PARAMEDICS.
THERE WERE ABOUT 8 PEOPLE HUDDLED UP AT THE SITE. I WANTED SO BADLY TO
PULL UP THERE LIKE I HAD DONE ON MONDAY. THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO
TELL HIS WIFE IS THAT I HONESTLY THINK HE REGRETTED IT ABOUT 1 QUARTER OF
THE WAY DOWN. AND I AM SURE HE DID. THAT IS WHY I TRIED SO HARD.MY
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY. AND BY THE WAY IT WAS NOT HIS
GIRLFRIENDS CAR HE WAS DRIVING IT WAS HIS SISTER IN LAWS. I SAW HER NAME
IN THE PAPER TODAY. I WANTED TO GO TO THE FUNERAL TODAY AND TALK TO HIS
WIFE. BUT MY BAD DAY AND BAD DREAMS CANNOT EVEN COMPARE TO HERS OR HER
CHILDRENS, OR THE MANY PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM. GOD BLESS YOU RAE
12.18.08, Anon, My Prayers go out to Alfredo's Family Lord Jesus, our
Redeemer, You willingly gave Yourself up to death so that all people might
be saved and pass from death into a new life. Listen to our prayers; look
with love on Your people who mourn and pray for their dead brother. Lord
Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive our brother his sins.
By dying You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You; do not
let Your brother be parted from You, but by Your glorious power give him
light, joy, and peace in heaven where You live for ever and ever. Amen.
(ugh.)
12.18.08, Terri S., Ruskin, Fl., This comment is for Geoff...Thank you
for having the courage to put your comments on this site. I am sorry that
you had to see this poor man in that state but now you are one more person
that has been affected by suicide and will possibly be able to help
someone else by telling your story. People need to be aware that suicide is
real and it is permanent, if you have someone threatning suicide they will
do it. DON'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW TO DO SOMETHING...TOMORROW WILL BE TOO
LATE!!!! Unfortunately I never knew of this site until my brother jumped
from the skyway on 10/18/08. Since then I have been obsessed with this
site (it is the only place to receive info on jumpers) I wish I knew who
found my brother and I would welcome any info that they have. I have
learned alot about suicide and it is not a selfish act, it is a desperate
act. When people commit suicide they are not in their right mind. My
brother was not a suicidal person, he did not abuse drugs or alcohol. He
was a family man who was faced with the fact that his wife no longer
wanted to be married and it threw him into a fast and hard depression. He
only wanted to end his pain, he could not comprehend what this would do to
us, his family. I love and miss my brother very much but the sad truth is
that if he were still here he would be suffering because his wife and
children would not be with him and they were his life!!! If I could be of
help to anyone please contact this site for my information.
12.18.08, Al's Friend, Tampa, I am friend of Alfredo and his family. He
was honest and absolutely family man. He has a beautiful family, loving
wife. We are not judges to judge what Alfredo did. I'm nobody either to
talk about his wife and children, but I have to say that he was a good
father, and I want to say to you if his children read this website one
day, knowing that his father was very honest man and he loved so much his
wife. I do not know where the reporter who got Alfredo drove a
girlfriend's car, he was in his own car as far as I understand, and I can
assure that Alfredo was not a man of having a hidden relationship. They
are a family with values and principles. Their children are adorable, his
wife is a great woman and he was an exemplary father. I am very sad for
this tragedy.
12.18.08, Friend, Tampa, FL., This is for Geoff, the boater (the hero) who tried to save our dear friend Al on 12/15. First, the paper was wrong today, the services are on Friday & Saturday. Perhaps, oddly, there would be some comfort in his wife knowing that he was not alone in his last moments. It seems to me that God may have put you there to know your character and what you would do to save a human life. You are amazing. We spent time w/the family 2 days before he jumped, and there was no indication what-so-ever. He was talking about future plans and things were going upward with his job. It makes no sense to all those who knew and loved him. I wanted you to know that we are praying for you too and we are all so sad. Nothing could have been bad enough to do this. Our hearts are broken for his wife and children whose world stopped on Monday night. God bless you Geoff.
12.19.08, Florida Native, OHIO, I am writing in regards to Geoff's experience, I lived in Florida born and raised for 30 years. Only since I moved away has this type of event been so compelling. I guess when I lived there this kinda of stuff happened all the time and I just played it off, not knowing the real effects of how this touches peoples lives. Even of those who dont know the victims personally. I grew up in Palmetto, and I fished those same water you speak of weekly. I was a professional fishing guide at one point and used the skyway bridge as a place to catch bait for my daily trips. I always looked up at the bridge and wondered how someone could jump. Now I know why. You story has struck truth into the hearts of many. It could just have easily been me in my boat under that bridge at any given point. But it was you, and you did what I probably would have done tried to help a human live. I have run your story over and over in my head, even when I lay down to sleep at night. Probably because I can put myself in your position as a bystander who just happened to be there. Your story has literally changed my life and how I veiw growing up on those same waters. This has gone on all along and now your story has brought truth and reality to what is so tragic and has happened to so many before you. Thank you for Sharing your story as hard as it is to live with your words might change and save many. I am sorry for your greif
and dealing with this, but you have made me see what so many seem to just
forget or neglect to see. Florida Native in Ohio
12.19.08, anon,
geoff, My prayers are with you and You are indeed a great person to try so
hard to help someone. I lost my son to the Bridge in 2006. I would give
anything if someone could tell me why and what really happened as they did
not find him for days, IF not now in the future his wife and family I am
sure would be comforted by you if you could talk to them at least some
answers could be found. the hardest part for me is the lack of answers.
12.22.08, Anon, Tampa, FL., Please please please...I wish someone who
was on top of the bridge would write in. We can NOT believe this really
happened. Al was the most kind and gentle person I knew. He always was so
happy and he truly was so in love with his wife and loved his children. Al
had an aurora about him, he was the type of person that people were drawn
to and felt like the new him forever even if they just met. Al you will
always be loved and missed. (mystery usually
surrounds suicide. "why?" is always the question. "we didn't know" is
common, as the suicidal often hides their intention. some people can't or won't discuss the things that need to
be discussed. it's kept bottled up inside until they can't take it any
more. we are sorry you lost your friend. if any more contact is
made, we will post it here.)
12.24.08, sierramist, st pete, I have worked on "The Bridge" for years & have visited this site from time to time. I wanted to respond to Geoff's writings. This "BEAUTIFUL" bridge is 3rd or 4th in the country for jumpers. That something else needs to be done is paramount!!! Geoff, you are to be commended for your efforts & need not feel sorry for anything that happened that day...was NOT your choice!!! We sometimes "joke" but it is NOT funny when half of St. Pete comes roaring thru the plaza. EVERYONE pauses for a moment, shakes there heads & says to themselves..."another jumper". It effects WAY more people than you know. In a strange & bizarre way, I know you & your site are trying to do some good. If people were more aware of the far-reaching impact they have, maybe they would think again about what they were about to do.
01.12.09, A., I was reading your site today. I noticed the fisher
named Geoff who was upset that he was not able to save the man he pulled
from the water. I know that it is not the jumper that I am associated with, however, if he is still having
problems, I can talk to him. I have the medical and death reports and
would be able to show him that there was NOTHING he could have done at
that point. Or talk to him if he needs to about the matter. I am still
wishing I hadnt READ it, I cant imagine him trying to see it in real life.
You can forward him my email if you like.
(we post your message here and maybe geoff will see it and
respond. he used the web forms when he wrote us and as such, he did not
leave an email address or any means to contact him. if he responds to your
offer, we will forward to you. thank you for your kind offer and we do
hope you and your children are coping.)
your comments are welcome. |
12.08.08: jumper,
10:39am, female, died, body found same day
Ilona Gans |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.08.08, zolter, Largo, (12.08.08, 10:39am, female), PCFR
responding. Female jumped, multiple witnesses and vehicle with purse left
on bridge. Units just getting on scene and begining search. 50-60 years
old
12.08.08, zolter, largo, conflicting reports of male vs female.
Body recovered.
12.08.08, zolter, largo, (used phones: no, died),
Mentioned this afternoon on
AM 820 WWBA. They
stated male jumped from bridge and died. Body was recovered by Fire Dept
Marine unit. Official time of death 11:09am.
12.09.08,
Nightrider, St Petersburg, FL., Body was unloaded from contractor's boat at Maximo park and left laying on the dock until coroner and ambulance came to haul body away.
any
more info
is welcome. |
12.08.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff: SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG
1042 1431
12.09.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff Office,
Release Number: 08-405 For Immediate Release
Public Information Office, Ilona Gans, DOB 1-26-47
[address withheld],
Bradenton, Florida, Suicide, December 8, 2008 at 10:42 a.m., Sunshine Skyway Bridge,
Approximately 10:40 a.m. the victim drove her vehicle (silver Mustang) to the Skyway Bridge. She pulled over on the southbound side, exited her vehicle, walked over to the side of the bridge where she jumped. Her body was discovered by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and recovered by St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.
(thank you, Jimmy B., Happyville USA) |
12.12.08, saddened, daytona beach, FL., This was a good friend of our family, female around 60 years old. She will be dearly missed. For the money they spend each year trying to talk people out of this they should be installing nets or some other preventative barrier to keep this from happening. God Bless you EG! Your in a better place, surly god will welcome you into the kingdom of heaven.
12.25.08, Jennifer G., Cleveland, OH., The jumper was my mother, Ilona Gans. She was facing depression and anxiety for about 10 years. I miss her so much and wish I could hug her to tell her how much I loved her - no matter what. Is there any advocacy group for the Skyway Sunshine Tampa Bay bridge? Why are there no fences or structural improvements??
(we are truly sorry for your loss. we're sure it's
especially hard today. if there is an advocacy group for the bridge, they
have not made themselves known to us and would probably wish we would go
away. the notion of nets or barriers has been brought up often. we address
our opinion about them here.). |
12.04.08: jumper,
12:55pm, female, hit water, died, body found same day
Lisa M. Koester, 25 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
12.04.08, Zolter, Largo, fl., (12.04.08, 12:55pm,
female, hit water, died), PCFD dispatched 12:57 pm. body recovered
floating in Bay. Details sketchy.
12.04.08, travis, st.petersburg, FL., hey my name is travis im 17 years
old and witnessed a terrifying scene today i wason my way to apollo beach
to wash a boat with my firend. as where going over the skyway we see this
gold audi pulled over and looked and seen a women jump of the bridge at
this time not probly five seconds before we see cops and fire rescue fly
by us and pull over and look over the side it was very scary cuz the women
i dont think from that high had hit the water yet i send a prayer out to
her and her family
any more
info is welcome. |
|
12.04.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1303 1703 |
12.04.08,
tampabay.com, Woman's body found after jumping from Skyway,
A
woman jumped off the Sunshine Skyway about 1 p.m. today, and her body
was later found floating in Tampa Bay, authorities said. The Florida
Highway Patrol received a call about the woman and were on the scene
about six minutes later. Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Vida
Morgan said the FHP called saying they had found a woman's body
floating in the bay. Hillsborough deputies are on the scene because
that part of the bridge is in Hillsborough.
(thanks Amy D., Pinellas, FL. and Tom, S. Pasadena)
12.04.08,
bradenton.com, Bradenton woman dies in jump from Skyway,
A
25-year-old Bradenton woman jumped to her death from the Sunshine
Skyway Bridge Thursday afternoon, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s
Office said. Lisa M. Koester reportedly drove up the south side of the
bridge, parked her car and jumped, according to Florida Highway
Patrol. Her body was found by firefighters searching the area. The
sheriff’s office released information about the death at 9:30 p.m.
after her next of kin had been notified. The high span of the bridge
is in Hillsborough County. |
|
12.05.08, anonymous, Bradenton, The woman that tragically chose to
take her own life on Thursday, December the 4th, was a sweet,
beautiful, & caring 25 yr old who was loved dearly by many and will be
missed terribly I personally understand that sometimes even when
you're surrounded by those who love and adore you, you can still feel
completely alone and hopeless in your own mind. The family is in need
of all the prayers they can get. Please, if you see the signs, don't
ever put it past someone to take these kinds of drastic measures -
NEVER allow yourself the chance of having to look back and wish you
would have done more for someone. This is absolutely shocking and
devastating and a permanent solution to a temporary problem. God be
with her, RIP LMKK |
mydeathspace.com comments:
12.11.08, Mrs. O., I hope nobody witnessed this. RIP
Lisa. Sorry things couldn't get better. 12.11.08, Natasha_XO, I've been on that bridge and it is terrifying. Poor woman must have really wanted to go.
12.12.08, Its Me De,
So Sad I wonder if the kids in her
myspace default pic. are hers? I
feel bad for them suicide affects families in the worst way
12.12.08, audreachan, that is very sad. she kind of looks sad in the
facebook pic too, i mean she is smiling, but, maybe the smile was for
someone else, not her. i hope she is where she needs to be.
12.13.08, whackjob, sometimes when i'm driving, i ponder pulling over on the side of the next bridge and jumping over the side. i resist the temptation and keep on keeping on to my destination. i am ridiculously afraid of heights but i think about the air on my face and the pull of gravity... rip lisa.
12.14.08,
invisible_00,
It's so sad that she couldn't see any other way to make her distress end. I hope you have found peace now Lisa.
|
 |
|
.
|
12.02.08: save |
thank you, jumpnews
reporter:
12.02.08,
zolter, Largo, (12.02.08, 2:10pm, male, no phones), Male seen on railing of bridge. PCFD dispatched at 2:10pm. FHP officers arrived on scene immediately and quickly grabbed the individual as he attempted to fight back to the railing. He was taken into custody.
(thank you, zolter. any more info is welcome.)
|
|
12.02.08, Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1421 1427
|
.
| 11.30.08: possible jumper, 1:50am |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporter:
12.05.08, B.V.N., Bradenton, Florida, (11.30.08, 1:50am), I'm a 55
year old musician living in Bradenton. Last weekend, I played a gig in
Largo Saturday night, got home at 2:10 am Sunday the 30th of November. I
was southbound around 1:45 am on I275 and saw flashing blue lights at the
top of the bridge. As I began my asention, the lights disappeared. When I
got to the top of the bridge a minute or so later, I looked over to the
northbound side and saw a car parked in the emergency lane and three young
20-30 somethings leaning over the two foot high cement wall looking down
into the dark abiss. After I had decended at 60 mph for another minute or
so, I notice a highway patrol car speeding back up on the northbound side.
There was nothing reported about this incident on the NBC Tampa TV News
nor the St. Pete Times newspaper the next two days. Lord Bless those
tortured souls.
any more info
is welcome. |
11.20.08: jumper,
4:00am, male, no phones, hit water, died, body found same day
Louis DiCarlo, 33 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
11.20.08, Mark, Tampa, FL., (11.20.08, 5:00am), Coming south on the
Skyway as I do every morning...at the crest of the bridge there were 3 law
enforcement vehicles with emergency lights on and what looked like a black
BMW (with it's lights on) pulled over on the right side of the road.
Looked as though a jump investigation was under way.
(you are correct about the bmw. it was running when the guy jumped and
maybe still when you drove by it. one might assume when he stopped the
car, he spent little time waiting to jump.)
11.20.08,
we heard about this jumper on
wwba-am
during the
mark
larsen show. apparently, the guy's girlfriend
died of an overdose last april. whether her's was deliberate or
accidental, it's a suicide none the less. maybe he thought, "i'll be with
her again".
11.20.08, zolter, Largo, FL., (11.20.08, 4:18am, died), PCFD dispatch
at 4:18am Marine unit received confimed time of death at 5:59am
any more
info is welcome. |
|
11.20.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 0401 0739 |
11.20.08,
hcso press release, Suicide, November 20, 2008 at 4:00 a.m., Deputies
responded to the Skyway Bridge this morning at approximately 4:00 a.m. in
reference to a suicide. Florida Highway Patrol discovered a BMW parked on
the north side of the Skyway bridge. Shortly after deputies responded they
were notified that St. Petersburg Fire Rescue had recovered the body of an
unidentified male in the water. The body was taken to Maximo Marina where
the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner responded and took custody of the
body. At this time, authorities have a tentative identification of the
individual, but no name will be released until the Medical Examiner has
made positive identification.
11.21.08,
heraldtribune.com, Man dies after jump from Skyway bridge, Staff
Report,
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – An unidentified man was found dead in the
water around 4 a.m. Thursday after apparently jumping off the Sunshine
Skyway bridge, authorities said.
The man was identified Friday as
Louis DiCarlo, 33, of Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s
Office.
The Florida Highway Patrol discovered the man’s BMW parked on
the north side of the bridge early Thursday morning and notified the
Sheriff’s Office, according to a report. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue found
the body in the water shortly after and transported it to the medical
examiner’s office.
Authorities believe they know who the man is, but it
has not been confirmed by the medical examiner, the report said.
(unidentified man is identified and is believed to be known but has not
been confirmed? proof reader = fail.) |
|
|
11.20.08, Terri S., Ruskin, Fl., I am the sister of the 10/18/08
jumper and I was saddened to see that there was another jumper today.
My heart goes out to his family and I would like to offer my support
and assistance if needed. Most people will not understand what you are
going through but I am walking in your shoes. Please
contact this sight if you
would like information to contact me.
(thanks, terri, we appreciate your concern and hope that your
compassion helps you in return. we will pass any and all replies to
you.)
11.20.08, anon, tampa, fl., His girlfriend was found dead in hot tub
alone in house about 6 month ago..he stated he didnt do it..hmmmm
conscious?
(and you know this how? recipe for death: overdosed and alone in a hot
tub.)
11.25.08, A., Tampa, He was an amazing guy who had so much kindness
and love in his heart and we are all devistated! It still doesn't feel
real..His ex did die in April and he was never the same afterwards,
but he tried to push thru( he didnt want to tell us how bad it was)
There can never be a good enough reason to take your life.. Nor can we
ever fully understand the reasoning behind the decision to do so or
what went thru the minds of those who left us so quick...; But one
thing we can do can do is to forgive them and not blame ourselves. I
wish Louis knew how many people truly loved him, and how many of us
are still crying now waiting for him to walk through the door with
that beautiful smile and our nightmare to be over but we know that
won't happen.We need to use this PORT HOLE to spread the word that
there's help out there and not be jerks and take bets on who or when
the next poor soul will decide to end their life.. okay wait how
about.... never.. alittle positive thinking people.. God please be
with these people who post,read, and most of all the families of the
people who so unfortunatly will never see there loved ones again.
11.27.08, ss, tampa, fl., I WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST PEOPLE IN
LOUIS'S LIFE WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE FEELING I FELT WHEN I GOT THE
CALL. LOUIS WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST MOST CHARMING INDIVIDUALS I HAVE
EVER KNOWN. I WILL THINK ABOUT HIM FOR EVERYDAY. I WISH HE KNEW HOW
MUCH MYSELF AND OTHERS LOVED HIM AND WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM WITH
ANYTHING. THROUGHOUT THIS SITUATION MY ADVICE FOR OTHERS WHO THINK
THAT SOMEONE IS DEPRESSED OR MIGHT KILL THEMSELVES IS HELP THEM AND BE
MORE AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS.
12.05.08, HEIN, STPE, This
whole situation is very, very tragic!!! I did not know this person
personally but knew of him. I am very sad for his family. Some of the
stories I heard about this person made me wonder..... When he took his
life.
12.16.08, anon, Tampa, FL., Something has to be done to prevent these people from jumping!!! I realize you can't stop an actual suicide from happening if someone really wants to take their life, but what about prevention? Why doesn't FHP assign officers at the span 24/7 on a rotating basis!!! If they see suspicious activity about to happen, pull out the taser!! I would rather get a phone call from law enforcement stating that my loved one had been committed under the baker act than getting a phone call from the medical examiners office to come down to identify a body. Since (L) took his life last month, I can't even bear to look at that bridge. I wonder if he suffered, did he really want to do it or was he trying to prove a point. He's gone and his family is devastated beyond belief!!!
(there is a device that could
prevent jumpers. whether the political powers that be could
recognize a good idea if it was shoved up their ass, is another
matter.)
12.29.08, lisa, tampa, fl., all i want to say is whoever is "anon"
and has commented on the november 20th jumper(and you know who you
are) and you obviously knew him but obviously dont have your story
strait about his girlfriends passing, HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT
WHAT SO EVER......SO NEXT TIME GROW BALLS AND SAY WHO YOU ARE IF YOU
HAVE ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY YOU CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
(we do not read in anon's post
that he claims mr. dicarlo had anything to do with it, just that he
may have had a guilty conscience about something. did she indeed die
of an overdose as the media reported? could mr. dicarlo possibly have
provided some means to that overdose? we sure don't know, but stranger
things have happened. maybe anon knows something we don't. it's all
conjecture at this point.)
12.29.08, *M3@Ni3*,
whoever you are you are a SICK TWISTED INDIVIDUAL. my brother
was a jumper and i think that your website is stupid. how can you
start a jumper pool? do you
not care about the families of those who lost loved ones? some of the
shit people write on there just blow me away. and you really shouldnt
let people be anon cuz if they have something to say about someone who
is no longer here then they should grow a set of balls and say who
they are
(we're sorry your brother did this to you. maybe you should direct your
anger at him, as
we didn't kill him. all we did was report his jump, which he
brought upon his family by his own hand. we do hope
you cope. please tell your family to stay away from this web site. anyone is
welcome to leave an anonymous comment using any name they choose, as we have no way of verifying
real identities anyway. the choice is theirs in how they address
themselves, much like we're sure your
*M3@Ni3* can not be found anywhere on your birth certificate.
do you know lisa from tampa? she too has an interest in anon people
growing balls.)
12.30.08, Anon,
Florida, It's a shame about his suicide and I'm very sad for his
family. I do know, for a fact, that this person wasn't all about "a
bed of roses". R.I.P., LD
03.08.09, Maria, Tampa Florida,
I am the mother of Louis and whoever implied that he had anything to
do with his fiance's death 6 months earlier. I'm sure the police did
thorough investigations the girl hit her head as she slipped on the
hot tub cover hit her head and obviouslly became unconsious. My son
deeply loved this girl and to insinuate otherwise you are dead wrong
as my daughter stated give us your name anon or was it you knew my son
and was so jealous of him that you think you'll hurt him now, well you
won't as he had a good reputation and was loved by all, and your words
can't change that. Think about carma. We love and miss you so very
much Your loving family. Their day will come.
03.08.09, Maria,
Tampa Florida, The jumper was my son Louis. I just recently found out
about your web-site and saw all the comments regarding Louis .I want
to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I am at a huge loss
without him. He had his reasons.in which he left a letter to all of us
in the immediate family. As I mentioned in an earlier post if you have
nothing good to say and won't give your name, your immature comments
are not needed. Once again thank you to all of Louis' friends that did
respond with positive things to say about him. His mother, Maria
03.12.09, anon, Fl.,
withheld (anon, if you can't leave a name and only wish to blast maria,
please keep your bullshit to yourself.) |
bradenton.com comments,
warning: some of these may be inappropriate.
muffin wrote on 11/21/2008 08:11:44 PM: It is a PERMANENT solution to
a TEMPORARY problem. God bless his family I am so sorry for your loss.
marycontrary wrote on 11/21/2008 04:02:36 PM: Usually when someone has
made up their mind to commit suicide, there is little that anyone can
do to stop it. I have a relative that has been threatening suicide for
many, many years. It makes me angry because I feel we have been held
hostage by the threats, and it has made our lives h*ll at times. We
will see more & more of this if things don't turn around in our
country and get better. Especially sad is the person that makes a
decision to take others with them, family members, co-workers, etc.
The Skyway has been used for suicides from the time it was opened in
the late 50's, and very few have survived. I was not trying to be
facetious when I made my earlier comment. It is a personal, permanent
decision that leaves many feeling guilty for not being able to help
their loved one.
(while many may feel guilty for not being able to
help, others may feel guilty for possibly being responsible for the
loved one jumping.)
Izzycool wrote on 11/21/2008
03:25:22 PM: What you people don't think a woman! can make you do
jump?
(feel free to take all those words and rearrange
them into a sentence that makes sense.)
Miabella704
wrote on 11/21/2008 02:17:31 PM: I actually witnessed someone jumping
a few years ago. I had my kids in the car and we were coming back from
St Pete. It's very sad. I know things are tough right now but, like
StopCriticizing said, if God brings you to it, He will bring you
through it. No matter how bad things are, don't do that to your
friends and family.
Freebird wrote on 11/21/2008 01:58:14 PM: it must have been the
dow jones that drove him to it.
StopCriticizing wrote on
11/21/2008 01:22:26 PM: I know that things are very difficult for alot
of us at this time, but don't let the devil fool YOU into giving him
your soul. Have FAITH in GOD and he will see you through this very
difficult time. It's not going to be easy, but keep your head up and
know in your heart, that GOD has a plan for each and everyone of us!
(yes, the devil is responsible, uh huh,
right.)
marycontrary wrote on 11/21/2008 12:32:12 PM: Man dies after jump
from Skyway...Wasn't that his intention? Mission Accomplished!!!
BubbaKnows wrote on 11/21/2008 10:05:24 AM: With all of the market
losses, I'm surprised they are not jumping off at a higher rate. Its
only 1$ for the Skyway Retirement plan. Such a deal.
(most employers offer this plan to all employees.) |
10.18.08: jumper,
7:00am, male, hit water, died, body found same day
Chad Eugene Bennett |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporter:
10.18.08, CB, Tampa, (10.18.08, 9:40am), I work in a
traffic department where I have to monitor Police websites for info. I saw
on Florida Highway Patrols website, right now, it says Skyway Bridge SB at
Top - Suicide. Just thought I'd pass it along if you want to check into
it.
any more
info is welcome. |
|
10.18.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
DEAD PERSON 1 SKYWAY BG 0827 1307
|
10.18.08,
tbo.com, Man's Body Found Near Sunshine Skyway Bridge,
by DAVE
NICHOLSON, The Tampa Tribune, A man's body was found this morning in
Tampa Bay about an hour after an abandoned vehicle was discovered on
the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Hillsborough County sheriff's
detectives are the investigating the death as an apparent suicide from
the bridge. The vehicle was discovered at about 7 a.m. and the body
found nearby an hour later, the sheriff's office said.
The man's name wasn't released pending notification of his relatives.
(thanks biggy, tampa, florida)
10.20.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff: Release Number:
08-344 For Immediate Release, Public Information Office, October 20,
2008, Debbie Carter: Chad Eugene Bennett, DOB 1-24-73, Riverview, FL.,
Apparent Suicide, October 18, 2008, Skyway Bridge, Hillsborough County
Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating an apparent suicide from
the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Saturday, October 18, 2008. At
approximately 7:00 a.m. an abandoned vehicle was discovered on the
bridge, and within an hour the body of Chad Bennett was found nearby
in the waters of Tampa Bay.
(thanks to Bill E.,
Riverview Fl.) |
10.20.08, cooki, Deltona, FL, A girl from works boyfriend just
jumped!!!
10.21.08, Nancy,W., Brandon, FL., This was a young
man with alot going for him. His family will truly miss him. |
.
09.30.08: jumper,
1:30pm, male, no phones, hit water, died
Steven Picciuto,
32 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
09.30.08, T S., Apollo Beach Fl., (09.30.08, 01:00pm, hit water), I
was headed toward Manatee County when I saw a St. Pete Fire boat enroute
to O'Neills with lights on. Got to top of skyway and saw a small blue car
parked on top with 4 cop cars behind it. Several workers talking to cops
and looking and pointing over the side of bridge.
(any more info
is welcome.)
|
|
09.30.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1327 1715
|
|
tbo.com,
Fishermen saw him jumping from
center span. Car found on bridge with diary inside.
|
05.22.09, from a
tbo.com article, ...The ripples from Picciuto's jump haven't stopped spreading. Picciuto, 32, pulled his car into the hazard lane of the bridge about
lunchtime one day in September. Traffic whooshed by. A diary sat by his
side. He
stepped from the car and went over the barrier. He and his wife, Alyson, had been separated about two years. His addiction to alcohol and drugs had wrung out the last of her
patience. They talked often, and he remained
a doting father to their two children.
"His pain is over, but our pain has
just started," Alyson said. "It's like breaking a glass, with a million pieces going everywhere.
You can never pick up all the pieces, all the shards." |
10.02.08, RALPHIE, BRADENTON,FLORIDA, GOOD LUCK YOU FRIGGIN
NUTCASES, JUST LOST AN EMPLOYEE THE OTHER DAY TO THE BRIDGE 9/30 OR 10/1
10.03.08, unknown, I was hoping this wouldn't
make the site, but I see it has. Yes, there was a jumper on the 30th.
He passed away. I know you guys like to cover these stories and keep
track of them, however, the man left behind two young children and I
am begging you not to publish his full name. He has a daughter (age
11) and a son (age 4). I am the childrens mom and ex of the deceased.
My daughter uses the computer often and knows how to use google and
just learned how to google peoples names and loves to do so. I don't
need her to see this. She knows daddy committed suicide, and if she
ever saw this, it would destroy her even more. If you could just leave
it the way it is on the site now, I am begging you to do so. His
family does not need to come accross this either.
(we respond: we are truly sorry for your loss and more so for what he
has done to his children. one of the main reasons we have this site is
to point out that jumping off the bridge is not just a way out of your
misery, but simply a way to pass your misery on to those that know and
love you. we will leave the particulars of his jump as they are now.
again, we hope your children cope. we have children and can not
imagine doing this to them. very selfish indeed.) we receive a reply:
10.04.08, Thank you for your condolences. And I
understand the site, and honestly, don't have a problem with it. I
would actually be interested in what the police reports say and all
that, my only concern was the use of his full name for the reasons I
stated and i hope you can understand why. I don't really have any more
info for you on the jump itself, however from what the police told us,
there was no hesitation. I can not believe he has done this to his
children, my youngest keeps asking when daddy will be done being dead
so he can come to his b-day party (which is only two weeks away). It
is aweful. And if your site even keeps one person from taking their
own life, it is worth it. it would have gotten better for him, he just
couldnt wait any longer, his suffering is done, and his childrens is
only beginning.
(we respond: several times we read your line,
"my youngest keeps asking when daddy will be done being dead so he can
come to his b-day party..." how tragic. as a mother, how do you cope
with this? we wish there was a way to post at least a part of this, as
it truly describes the pain and confusion left behind by those that
jump from that damn bridge. we do applaud you having told your
children the truth. thank you very much for your input.) we receive a
reply:
10.04.08, It kills you doesnt it? And that isn't
even the worst thing I have heard come out of my childrens mouths the
past few days. He is too little to be able to understand the finality
of death. I was told not to lie to them about what happened, although
they have been given age appropriate details (whatever the f**k
that mean in this case right?) Anyway, if you want to post from these
last emails you are welcome to.
(we respond: thank you for allowing us to post
this. perhaps if someone reads this while thinking of suicide, maybe
they will think again. we wish you and your children all the best in
these trying times and do hope all those concerned find solace soon.) |
09.28.08: jumper,
5:10pm, female, hit water, lived
Gina Rue, 43 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
09.28.08, zolter, largo, fl., (09.28.08, 5:17pm, female, lived),
multiple reports, times are email sent time:
17:20- scanner dispatch
5:10pm. 45-50 yo female. jumped off bridge. screaming in water in pain.
private boat assisting. rescue enroute
17:28- coast guard with 8 minute
eta to o'neills marina. advises patient with severe back pain, bleeding
from the eyes and facial lacerations.
17:46- Patient loaded in
ambulance enroute to bayfront at 5:45pm. PCFR reports that patient did
jump from center span.
17:53- Patient is alert and oriented x 3.
Speaking with medics. She is with difficulty breathing with large hemotoma
on the back. They may begin airway intervention. Estimated height > 140
ft. (that has to hurt. thank you, zolter, for your
multiple input.)09.28.08, Ellenton Dave, Ellenton, Florida,
(09.28.08, 5:10pm, hit water), Right in front of me at the top of the
bridge this afternoon. Southbound lanes came to a stop as 3 people ran
from their parked cars and rushed to the west railing/ traffic boundary.
Too late, the looked in horror as their loved on fell to their death. Erie
- I was the last car to drive by, before traffic parked to "rubber neck"
the grief of the participants attempted to stop the jumper.
|
|
09.28.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1717 2118
|
09.28.08,
myfoxtampabay.com, Jumper survives plunge from Skyway
ST. PETERSBURG - Paramedics say a 43-year-old woman survived a jump
from the Sunshine Skyway's center span on Sunday.
It was just after 5 p.m. when reports reached St. Petersburg Fire &
Rescue's Marine Unit that someone had jumped off the bridge.
A
Coast Guard ship happened to be sailing under the bridge at the time, and
the woman splashed into the water only about 100 feet from the ship.
The Coast Guard rescued the woman from the water and took her back to
O'Neil's Marina, where she was treated for back pain and cuts. She was
taken to Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition.
The Skyway Bridge road deck rises to nearly 200 feet above the water,
and the span has seen its share of suicide jumpers. The state installed
six crisis hotline phones along the center span in 1999, and runs 24 hour
patrols.
09.28.08,
tbo.com, Woman Hospitalized After Jumping From Skyway
A woman who
jumped from the center span of the Sunshine Skyway on Sunday afternoon was
rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard boat and taken to a local hospital with
serious injuries, authorities said.
Gina Rue, 43, landed in the water
about 100 feet from a Coast Guard boat on routine patrol at 5:14 p.m., St.
Petersburg Fire & Rescue Lt. Joel Granata said.
The Coast Guard pulled
Rue out of the water and took her to a nearby marina, where she was
treated for cuts and back pain, Granata said. Surveillance cameras on the
bridge alerted authorities to Rue moments after she leaped, Granata said.
She was taken to Bayfront Medical Center and was listed in serious
condition.
A jump from the 197-foot high center span can shatter bones,
authorities said. Rue was fortunate that a patrol boat was near because
those who survive the fall often drown, Granata said.
"She's going to
live," Granata said. "The Coast Guard was in the right place at the right
time." (thanks to Bert C., Tampa, FL.
comments follow article.)
09.28.08,
tampabay.com, Woman, 43, survives jump from top of Sunshine Skyway
bridge,
By Rita Farlow, Times staff writer,
ST. PETERSBURG — A
woman jumped off the highest portion of the Sunshine Skyway bridge and
lived Sunday evening.
Gina Rue, 43, fell the 197 feet from the center
span above Tampa Bay at 5:15 p.m. Boaters alerted a nearby U.S. Coast
Guard unit, which pulled Rue out of the water and brought her ashore.
She was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries, including
back pain and facial lacerations. But Rue was expected to survive, said
St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Lt. Joel Granata.
The Coast Guard unit
was only about 200 yards away from where Rue splashed into the water. They
were preparing to board another vessel at the time.
"We just happened
to be at the right place at the right time," said Shawn Fitchko, 29, a
boatswain's mate second class on the unit.
Fitchko said Rue was
clutching a floating seat cushion that a boater had tossed to her when the
Coast Guard vessel reached her.
He said Rue, who was wearing jeans and
a T-shirt, was alert and was able to move her fingers and toes. He talked
to her to try to keep her conscious.
"She was wondering why she was
alive, actually," he said.
People don't often survive a jump from the
high span of the bridge, but it has happened on rare occasions.
Updated
statistics weren't available Sunday, but a St. Petersburg Times article in
2003 reported that at least 127 people had died jumping from the bridge
since it opened in April 1987, making it one of the most-used bridges for
suicide in the nation.
A Times article a year earlier stated that only
about a half-dozen people had survived the fall. Famously, a Rottweiler
named Shasta also survived the jump in 1998 when she was either carried by
or followed her suicidal owner over the edge. The man died.
People who
make the jump hit the water in about 3.5 seconds going about 75 mph. The
impact typically breaks bones and ruptures organs. Even if the impact
doesn't kill them, people are knocked unconscious and drown.
Over the
last decade, the Times has interviewed two people who survived the jump.
Both said they regretted the decision to jump just before they hit the
water. The impact was so violent that it ripped off of their clothes.
One survivor, whose bowels were ruptured and back broken, described the
feeling as like crashing through a wooden deck. A nearby boater rescued
her.
The other survivor suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs,
ruptured spleen and fractured vertebra in his neck. He swam to nearby
rocks and was rescued.
Over the years, state officials have taken steps
to try to prevent people from jumping, including installing crisis phones
and assigning Florida Highway Patrol troopers to patrol the bridge for
potential jumpers.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, you can call
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.(comments
follow article.)
|
|
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Subject Charge Report: 1
•
2
|
09.29.08, norrelrich,
found on journal.com, I Choose to Live!
Can you imagine dying from
such excruciating pain where your organs rapture and all your
bones break from landing in water at 75mph in 3.5 seconds coming
from 197 foot? That’s what has happened 127 times at the Skyway
since it opened in April 1987, the St. Petersburg Times article
reported in 2003. I don’t understand why someone would want to die
in such a painful way. Most people say that suicide is a way of
being at peace and an escape from pain then why get that escape by
committing suicide in one of the most painful ways imaginable? The
TBT reported that most people who survived jumping from the Skyway
Bridge stated that they regretted jumping right before hitting the
water. I’m sure they did, as I’m sure I would if I was driving
drunk and I got pulled over, I would regret drinking right as the
sirens went on. So that’s why I don’t do it.
And I don’t mean to be insensitive to
someone else’s pain or troubles but my concern is |
 |
| what could be so bad to not only think but go through an attempt
to end your own life and why in such a terrible way? This is not
just suicide, it is torture. Take Gina Rae as an example, who was
the last person to attempt suicide on the Skyway and guess what?
She survived! WOW! Now, according to the TBT, she suffers from
back pain and face lacerations. So now my question is, is there
going to be another attempt or will she be thankful for another
chance at life and thank God for saving her?! |
|
|
comments:
topix.com •
more info and
your comments are welcome. |
.
09.18.08: save, male
Aaron Poindexter |
thank you, jumpnews
reporter:
09.19.08, Bill E., Riverview, Fl., Deputy coaxes Skyway jumper to
safety
St. Petersburg
Times©, ST. PETERSBURG -- Tuesday night, it seems Aaron Poindexter
was ready to give up. He had had a fight with his girlfriend, no home, no money
and no job. And at around 8 p.m., he had a cinder block tied to his leg,
positioned on the rail near the Sunshine Skyway's north pier. Someone spotted
him and called police. Deputy Christopher Parkins talked to the man and
convinced him not to jump, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Poindexter was taken into protective custody and transported to a local mental
health facility for evaluation. Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
any more info
is welcome.
|
.
| 09.04.08: possible jumper |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporter:
09.04.08, Bill E., Riverview, (09.04.08, 4:30pm), Going over Skyway,
noticed Helicopter circling. County Police SUV at top of bridge
northbound. I could not see what county, but was typical white with green
stipes. Could not notice any abandoned car due to all of the painting
trucks and equipment. Let's see if any news developes.
(thanks again, bill. who knows what's going on with
the bridge painting. they've already celebrated the one year painting
anniversary. there was a picnic with cake and volley ball. we're sure when
the bridge is complete, the workers will be ready for retirement.)
(any more info
is welcome.) |
.
|
08.15.08: save
|
thank you, jumpnews
reporter:
08.15.08, Mike S., New Port Richey, FL., (08.15.08, 12:15pm, male, was stopped from jumping),
I was driving south bound on the skyway bridge around 12:12 PM and I noticed an older red pick up truck with the hazard lights on, pulled over to the emergency lane. I immediately thought this may be a jumper. Sure enough as I passed the truck, I saw a man with his right leg over the wall and he was doing the sign of the cross. I continued to drive while looking in the review mirror and the man never jumped. I didn’t think he would jump. He was only half way up the bridge. My first thought was that, if he did jump, he probably would survive. I felt he was crying out for help with this false attempt at suicide. The man seemed to be in his late 30’s and was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, as if he had just come from the gym. He was white, thin, dark hair.
any more info
is welcome.
|
08.15.08, tampabay.com, Highway Patrol prevents suicide attempt on Skyway bridge
Traffic on one southbound lane of the Sunshine Skyway bridge was shut down for about 20 minutes this afternoon while the Florida Highway Patrol responded to a man's suicide attempt. The man had parked his red GMC pickup truck and was sitting on the wall shortly after noon. Troopers had him in custody by 12:30 p.m., said FHP spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins. The man was "contemplating suicide by jumping off the bridge," Gaskins said.
--Mariana Minaya, Times staff writer. (any more info is welcome.)
|
06.08.08: jumper,
male, hit water, died
Daniel Collinsworth, 53 |
several reports from under the bridge. luckily, no
one was
landed upon. thank you,
jumpnews
boater reporters:
06.08.08, Scanner, Largo, FL., (2:30pm, male, died), Monitoring on
scanner. Body recovered.
06.08.08, TS, Apollo Beach Florida, (2:00pm, male, hit water, died), Was
fishing at bridge when he jumped off the bridge. He hit the water face
first. CPR was performed for a brief minute by another fisherman.
06.08.08, Patrick H., Lakeland, FL, USA, (06.08.08, 3:30pm, male, no
hotline phones, hit water, died, body found same day), my parents almost got
hit by the jumper today when he fell 50ft from them.
06.09.08, Visiting Sailor, (06.08.08, male, hit water, died), Witnessed
Jumper enter water Approx 50 yars ahead of our sailing vessel while
approaching bridge. Persos on initial reacting fishing vessel was a medic
and pronounced DOA within 10 mins. White male, 40's Wearing Red & White
shirt. Hillsborough Sherrif vessels were on scene approx 30 mins after
initial radion call. Coast guard small craft responded approx 45 mins
after initial call. My initial thoughts were I was witnessing a drug drop
as the fishing vessel was at the victim within a minute and had him pulled
in very quickly.
(thank you for your service and your report. stay
safe.)
06.10.08, SpecialK, tampa, fl., Male; 53yrs old ... Family member
committed suicide when he decided to jump off the Skyway Bridge. Not sure
what he hit when he did land, but he did not survive.
06.11.08, anon, Tampa, FL., 06.08.08, 2:00pm, male, hit water, died), I
saw something falling into the water(had no clue it was a human) and saw
the big splash as the jumper landed approximately 200 ft in front of the
boat I was on. Pulled up next to a small fishing boat and saw the jumper's
body (in red and white clothes with shoes missing) floating in the water
and watched as 2 fishermen pulled his body into their boat. The folks on
the sailboat contacted the Coast Guard. I watched as one of the fishermen
attempted CPR, which he did not know how to do but at least tried anyway,
and his hands were covered in blood because the jumper was bleeding
everywhere.
(any more info
is welcome.)
|
|
06.08.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
DEAD PERSON 1 SKYWAY BG 1433 1903
|
|
tbo.com,
Body recovered immediately by fisherman. |
.
.
| 05.04.08: article • Skyway
Suicide Patrols May Be Lost To Cost-Cutting |
05.04.08,
tbo.com, ST. PETERSBURG - Working suicide patrol on the towering Sunshine
Skyway Bridge, Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Leif Cardwell rolled up to find the
58-year-old woman with one leg already draped over the short concrete barrier
wall. The license plate on the Ford minivan she drove there said: "HPPY NOW."
Cardwell kept his distance, imploring her to talk to him about her
problems and not go through with it. He had thwarted a bridge suicide attempt
two months before.
"It's too late," she kept
saying. She threw down her driver's license and cell phone and swung her other
leg over.
Then she was gone, just like that.
Seconds later came a loud crash when she hit the water. "It was a very
windy day, it was noisy, but it was clearly audible...," recalls the
38-year-old trooper. "It is a violent way to go."
Despondent souls keep stopping at the peak of the majestic Florida Gulf
Coast landmark to kill themselves, adding to its reputation as one of the
country's most notorious bridges for jumpers.
It's a problem the state has tried to address with 24-hour patrols,
surveillance cameras and crisis hot line phones at the top. Now it's possible
that the bridge patrol, which troopers say has saved dozens of lives since it
was initiated in 2000, could be cut back as the cash-strapped state government
struggles to make ends meet.
Ten people jumped
to their deaths at the Skyway last year. But seven others were talked out of
it or wrestled away from the edge by one of the troopers who drive back and
forth across the four-mile bridge around the clock specifically for that
reason.
One night last month, a trooper found
a silver Jaguar abandoned by a 22-year-old man whose body was found in the
bay; the next day, the same officer stopped a 39-year-old would-be jumper.
Around 120 people have killed themselves there since the higher,
cable-supported version of the Skyway opened in April 1987, carrying traffic
across the mouth of Tampa Bay on Interstate 275.
For unknown reasons, the rate started picking up in the mid-1990s, and
over the past decade an average of eight people a year have died there,
highway patrol and sheriff's office statistics show.
The worst was 2003: 13 dead, 10 other attempts.
Those who fall the roughly 200 feet from the center span of the bridge
hit the dark water in less than four seconds, moving at around 75 mph. The
impact tears away their clothes, shatters bones, ruptures internal organs.
Some hit the rocks.
The vast majority drive
less than an hour to get there, paying the $1 toll to get on the bridge. Many
leave notes in their cars. Records show them coming at all hours on every day
of the week. The most popular day: Sunday.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush asked the Department of Transportation to look into the
possibility of installing nets or new barriers.
Those ideas proved unrealistic because of the aerodynamics of the
bridge and other factors, but the push resulted in the installation of the six
crisis hot line phones and 24-hour patrols.
By
being constantly on or around the bridge, troopers have thwarted more than 90
suicide attempts since 2000, the highway patrol says.
Regardless, a state Department of Transportation spokeswoman
acknowledged that the $330,000-a-year program that pays troopers to work extra
duty on the Skyway is being scrutinized as the agency tightens its belt.
Fast Response Is Key
The key to saving
people, officials say, is being able to get an officer there within minutes of
a car stopping on the bridge, which is not otherwise accessible to
pedestrians.
By then the more resolute have
already jumped, some not even bothering to shut off the engine.
But many are still sitting in their cars crying when the officer rolls
up. Or they're out, pacing or sitting on the 31/2-foot-high wall. If the
trooper can get to them, they're taken into custody for a mental evaluation.
"There are some who aren't committed to jumping, and those are the ones
we can save," says highway patrol Lt. Harold Frear, who coordinates the bridge
detail. "We don't want them to sit up there long enough to think about it and
decide they want to go through with it."
Trooper Dan Cole worked the detail a couple times a week for around four years
and never lost anyone over the side.
"I think
I've physically grabbed six off the wall, two that had been totally hanging
over the wall," says Cole, who received a commendation for one of the saves.
Would Barrier Be Solution?
Some think
that nothing short of a barrier or fence will solve the problem for good.
That's been the response in other places.
A
barrier is being studied for San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, widely
regarded as the most popular suicide spot in the world. At least 1,250 people
have jumped from the bridge since it opened in 1937.
Construction of an 8-foot fence is expected to begin next year to deter
jumpers at Seattle's Aurora Bridge, where at least 40 people have killed
themselves in the past decade. A barrier is also in the works for the Cold
Spring Canyon Arch Bridge in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Suicides were reduced from around 20 a year to zero at Toronto's Bloor
Street Viaduct after the construction of a barrier in 2003.
Why jump off a bridge? Survivors have cited convenience and the
romanticism associated with ending their lives in beautiful locales, floating
through space before being enveloped by the water and then darkness.
"They think of transcendental flight through the air and then they're
going to hit the water and drown," says Lanny Berman, a doctor and executive
director of the American Association of Suicidology. "This isn't in their mind
that it's going to be as traumatic a death as it is. It has some magical
thinking attached to it."
"Maybe they think
it's a sure thing," offers Cardwell, the state trooper. "Maybe for those who
don't want to commit suicide, it's a way to get attention pretty quickly."
"I honestly have no idea why," says Mary McNamara of Sarasota, whose
troubled 31-year-old son became the first bridge suicide of 2008 on Feb. 12.
His body still hasn't been found.
A
49-year-old woman who killed herself at the Skyway in August told one of her
sisters that she decided to do it after seeing "The Bridge," a 2006
documentary about jumpers at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Experts note that once a locale gets a reputation as a suicide spot, it
inevitably attracts more people there to do the deed. And the Skyway's
reputation is established. |
.
.
04.11.08: jumper, 4:30am,
male, hit water, died
Gaetano Zupa, 22 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
04.11.08, Mark, Tampa, (04.11.08, 6:00am), I travel from Tampa to
Sarasota everyday...just came over the Skyway at 6:50 AM and there were 5
police cars on top of the bridge on the south bound side along with a
light colored (gray or a light blue or green) Jaguar X-Type. There were
also 2 boats with flashing lights running search patterns on the bay side
of the bridge.04.11.08, Paul S., Sarasota, FL., (04.11.08, 4:30am, hit
water), WWBA 820 news
is reporting that a car was found with the keys in the ignition at the top
of the skyway. A person was also seen standing on the barrier ready to
jump as they went by. Authorities are combing the water below as I write
this
(we caught that on
mark's show as well.)
04.11.08, Gilligan, St. Pete, FL., F.W.C. boats and helicopters are
reportedly circling in the vicinity of the bridge. I overheard a boater
calling the Coast Guard on the marine band radio, he was saying there may
be someone in the water. Possible Jumper? Oh the suspense!
(any more
info is welcome.)
|
|
04.11.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
DEAD PERSON 1 SKYWAY BG 0442 0719
|
|
tbo.com,
Car found
on southbound span with keys inside.
|
|
04.12.08, Gilligan,
myspace comment, By the way... Gilligan has got you covered for
the
marine band radio. Did we actually get a confirmation on yesterday's
jumper? Inquiring minds want to know?
(thank you for your support. we heard about it
ourselves on the wwba-amplitude
modulation band radio several times. that and the sheriff's department
is confirmation enough for us.)
04.12.08, Alex, Florida, I heard about this jumper from his best
friend. He wasn't told directly from the jumper but found out from his
father. The details all are a little rusty and bizzare and I just was
wondering if you had any additional information about this so things can
be clarified...Everyone is saying he is dead.. Thanks in advanced
(we will post whatever info we get on this or any
other jump. we rely heavily on you the people to flood us with all the
jumper news that's fit to print, plus more that's not.)
4.14.08, K. O'B., Sarasota, FL. USA, Guy Z[last name withheld] jumped to his death on 4/11/08. He had left horrific
text messages on his ex-girlfriends blackberry, and had also called his
Mother who resides in Sarasota, FL. He was only 22 (the poor soul).
Suicide is such a selfish act, and the loss is magnified to the ones left
to ponder, If I only took the time to REALLY listen to what he was trying
to say......Things would be different today.
(we are sorry you lost your friend. try to not beat
yourself up over this. he obviously had more on his plate than he could
handle.)
04.14.08, W. L., sarasota, fl., The Jump was a good friend to all.
"Guy" in a right mind would never do this. He must of gone up there over
dispear, maybe even to scare some, and being intoxicated fell. Or maybe
life was to much. Although very popular amoung peers, there was NOTHING on
the news or anything. there has been talk of a funeral, but the dad does
not want one. how selfish!!!!! RIP GUY Z[last name withheld]. you will always be here in our hearts. This should have
never happeend. i was wish i was down there, to catch you when you fell.
(as usual, the print news dorks fall silent. sorry
you lost your friend, we hope you cope.)
|
.
| 03.27.08: jumper,
11:00am, female, hit water, lived |
thank you, jumpnews
reporters:
03.27.08, Rusty, St Pete., (03.27.08,
11:00am, female, hit water, lived), Florida Highway Patrol reported a
female jumper and located the body at around 11:10AM. Info obtained from
police scanner for Pinellas County and FHP website also.
03.27.08, Gilligan, St. Pete, FL., (03.27.08,
10am), Hearing alot of chatter from Coast Guard Sector St. Pete on the
marine band radio this morning. There is a report of a person in the water
west of the Skyway. They did not identify whether the individual was a
male or female and gave no further description.
03.27.08, Paul S., Sarasota, FL., (03.27.08,
11am, female, hit water, lived), From the
Bradenton Herald.
03.27.08, Leo, Tampa, FL., (03.27.08, 11:02am,
female, no phones, hit water, lived), Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
report #08-187987. Reports of a w/f jumped from the northbound lanes just
before the hump. Jumper recovered by Coast Guard and female was reported
alive.
03.27.08, bradenton, fl., (03.27.08, 10am,
female, hit water, lived), saw it on bradenton herald.com.... just
happened this morning. she lived- 44 yr old woman was taken to hospital
03.27.08, Jill, Clearwater, (03.27.08, female,
hit water, lived), Today in St Pete Times
03.27.08, Chris, (03.27.08, 10:00am), Saw
numberous Law Enforcement Boats moving out by the Skyway. At the baitshop,
there were numerous ambulances, fire trucks, and officers. One Fireman
said that someone jumped. They didn't seem to be moving fast enough to
make me think that the person lived.
03.27.08, K., St Pete, (03.27.08, 11am, female,
hit water, lived),
bradenton.com
any more
info is welcome.
|
03.27.08,
tampabays10.com, Traffic backed up on Skyway Bridge
Manatee County, Florida - Coast Guard, Pinellas Marine units, and Eckerd
College Search and Rescue are at the Sunshine Skyway bridge where a woman
reportedly jumped around 11 a.m.
Officials found the woman under the bridge, she is being taken to a nearby
boat ramp where she will be transported to a local hospital.
It is unusual for someone to survive a jump from the bridge, but we are
told she did not jump from the top portion.
03.27.08,
bradenton.com, Jumper off Skyway is 44-year-old woman, HERALD STAFF
REPORT
The person who jumped from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge this morning is a
44-year-old woman, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue reported.
The woman leaped from the south end of the bridge - an approximate 20-foot
fall into Tampa Bay - and was found face down in the water by officers on
a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission rescue boat.
She was revived and rushed to Bayfront Medical Center, and is in stable
condition, accordiing to information released from Lt. Rick Feinberg of
St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue.
The plunge off the bridge was made at 10:47 a.m. Officers on the boat, who
pulled her out of the bay, reported she was disoriented.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Harold Frear said the woman was hospitalized in
a secure unit under the Baker Act.
The woman's name and other information have not been released.
When first reports of the jump came to 911, the Manatee County Sheriff's
Office responded. The spot of the jump was on the south end of the
four-mile bridge, nearer to Terra Ceia Island than to St. Petersburg.
Subsequently, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue took over the situation.
The highway patrol is handling the investigation of what caused her to
jump, Feinberg said.
reader comments posted after the story:
-DonS., What an idiot. looking for attention. Obviously not wanting to
die!
-Bev2827, I bet you she did this over some man threating him that she'd
kill herself not trying to die but wanting him to pay her some attention,
jumping dont keep men that makes them run and fast
03.27.08,
abcactionnews.com, Woman survives jump off Sunshine Skyway Bridge,
Last Update: 2:21 pm
ST. PETERSBURG -- A woman survived a 20 foot fall of the Sunshine Skyway
Bridge, after jumping of the lower part of the bridge Thursday morning,
according to mulitple offiicials.
According to Lt. Rick Feinberg with St. Petersburg Fire/Rescue, the 44
year old woman jumped off the lower part of the bridge on the Manatee
County side around 10:45 this morning.
She was picked up by a Fish Wildlife marine unit, who found her
disoriented and face down in the water. She was taken to O'Neils Marina
and later taken to Bayfront Medical Center in stable condition.
03.27.08,
tbo.com, Woman Survives Jump From Sunshine Skyway, By JOSH POLTILOVE
of The Tampa Tribune, Published: March 27, 2008, Updated: 05:58 pm
TAMPA - A 44-year-old woman jumped from the lower portion of the Sunshine
Skyway this morning, according to St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue.
She survived the 20-foot fall.
After the 10:47 a.m. incident, she was found facedown in the water by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine unit.
Veteran FWC Officer Terry Noll was driving on the Sunshine Skyway to a
national security training exercise when he got a call from dispatch, said
FWC spokesman Gary Morse. When Noll arrived at the scene, he spotted the
woman waiving her arms for help.
Noll launched his boat, but by the time he got to the woman she was
facedown in 58-degree water, experiencing hypothermia symptoms, Morse
said. Noll turned the woman over and she gasped for air.
Just about the same time Noll arrived, a couple of students from the
Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team showed up. They boarded the FWC boat
and provided aid to the woman as Noll steered the boat to land, Morse
said.
The woman, who was not identified, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, a
release states.(comments follow article.)
03.27.08,
tampabay.com, Skyway jumper rescued from Tampa Bay, By Stephanie Garry
and Curtis Krueger, Times Staff Writers, Published Thursday, March 27,
2008 9:26 PM
ST. PETERSBURG — Officer Terry Noll was cruising in his boat across the
mouth of the Tampa Bay on Thursday morning, headed for training in St.
Petersburg, when he got a call from dispatch.
A woman had jumped off the Sunshine Skyway bridge.
The veteran officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission turned around and headed for the southern end of the Skyway,
where a 44-year-old woman was floating in the chilly water. She had left
her car in the shoulder and jumped about 20 feet into the water,
authorities said.
She waved twice for help, then went facedown in the bay.
When Noll pulled her out, she was gasping for air.
Meanwhile, Ryan Dilkey, coordinator of Eckerd College Search and Rescue,
had been scrambling to assemble a team of students.
About 10:45 a.m., he received a call from emergency workers that someone
jumped off the bridge. Working from a list of volunteers trained for
rescues, he found four students to help within 10 minutes. One stayed on
shore to keep tabs on the situation and three accompanied him in a 26-foot
boat.
Near the Skyway, two students boarded Noll's boat, where the woman was
responsive but disoriented, Dilkey said.
The students, who are trained in emergency procedures, tended to her as
Noll raced to O'Neill's Marina in St. Petersburg, said wildlife commission
spokesman Gary Morse.
St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue paramedics took the woman to Bayfront
Medical Center, where she was in stable condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the incident but declined to
release her name.
Noll went on to his national security training, and Dilkey was relieved
the situation turned out well. The Eckerd College group trains for all
kinds of rescues. Because of the college's location, Skyway suicide
attempts are inevitable.
"I'm glad to see one rescued," Dilkey said.
|
| 03.27.08, Leo, Tampa, FL., A
poem for todays failed jumper: |
|
One-hundred and
nitety-three feet in the sky...
I parked my car before the hump
I don't need to fall that high
I think the sound will go "lump"
as I free-fall to the water.
There was just no other way out
I hope I will have a really nice casket
an oak one with brass handles no doubt
oh but wait, here comes the coast guard's rescue basket. |
06.02.08, Lauren P., Tampa, Fl., I was working
the day this lady jumped. I can say that she was only 20 feet up, she
parked her car at the top of the bridge and ran down the road. She was
found in the water and EMS took her to a local hospital. Reports that I
heard, it was so she could have a " dramatic " scene, she complained all
the way to the hospital. The last that I heard she was in the local psych
hospital.
|
.
.
02.12.08: jumper,
8:00pm, male, hit water, died, missing
Terry Stephens, 31 |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
02.14.08, Bill E., Riverview, Fl., Looks like 2 reports from HCSO
that day. First was at 15:37 when person jumped, 2nd was at 2042, Maybe
when the body was found?
(the first call goes just over 4 hours and ends
almost a hour before the second one begins. it lasts 2.5 hours. we tend to
believe it would be a new suicide call, being as the body recovery is the
job of the coast guard and marine units on the water. we've never seen an
instance where a new
SUICIDE ATT service call was initiated for body
recovery before. then again, who are we? they aren't telling us. thanks
again for all your support.)
02.17.08, sarasota, (02.13.08, pm, male, died), A dear friend of mine
told me her nephew jumped from the skyway bridge last Wednesday 2/13/2008.
Terry is his name and I have not heard if he was found. Could you verify.
(it appears the date of this jump was 02.12.08.
please read on.)
02.18.08, Mary M., Sarasota, FL., (02.12.08, 8:00pm, male, hit water,
died), The jumpers vehicle was seen at the top of the bridge and two eye
witnesses saw him get out of the car and jump. It was dark and rainy so
the Coast Guard did not look for him until the next day. After 24 hours
the case was turned over to the Sheriff's Dept, so now we play a waiting
game, My son's name was (is) Terry
Stephens. He was 32 years old. Brown hair, blue eyes. He is about
5' 8", sd weights 150? I sm guessing since I haven't seen him in months
due to his mental state. If you hear of anything, please E=msil me ASAP@@
I would geatly appreciate it and I know the rest of the famly woudl as
well. He is considered MISSING!!!!!! Thsnks again, THE MOM
(we are sorry for your loss. if anyone posts further
news, we will pass it to you.)
(any more
info is welcome.) |
| 02.12.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 2043 2313
|
|
tbo.com,
Parked at top of bridge, jumped. Search started next day but body not found.
|
|
02.23.08, HEARTBROKEN, ORLANDO, FL., Wondering if there is any news?????
(sorry, this is all we have at this time.)
03.08.08, j.b., if they would like to talk to someone, my son jumped a
few years ago and was missing for a while.
(we are sorry you lost your son. thank you for
offering help to those left behind.)
03.09.08, Mary, Sarasota, I would like to talk to one of the other
families that suffered a loss. My son died 2/12/08 after jumping and his
body still has not been recovered. All of us are suffering and in such
shock. What are the chances that they will never find him? How can we find
closure without finding him? HELP!!
(we passed your contact request to j.b. and we wish
you closure in your time of hardship. perhaps discussion with others in
your position will help you cope.)
03.13.08, tz, If they want to talk, my sister jumped
8/9/07 and is still missing. We had a memorial 12 weeks later and it
helped our mom and us with some closure. My heart goes out to you & your
family, we know the pain and there isn't a day that goes by that we're not
thinking about our Helen.
(we are sorry for your loss. we passed your email on
to mary and j.b. and thank you for your concern.)
03.25.08, Heidi L., Orlando, Florida, Mary, I am so sorry about Terry.
You, Anna and all your family are in my hearts every day not a day goes by
that I do not think about Terry...... Heidi in Orlando.
03.25.08, Mary Mc., Sarasota, FL., My son's body still has not been
found. I am asking that everyone out there on the water please help. Our
family will never have closure until we find him and I know that the
public can help. With all the boaters out there maybe they could keep an
out an extra eye and if they find anything contact the Hillsborough Police
Department. Thank you!!
03.25.08, Mary Mc., Sarasota, FL., My son, Terry
Stephens, as I previously
reported was the man that made the choice to end his life in such a tragic
way on 2/12/08. Being a strong Christian is seeing me through this painful
time, but I also want those that are suffering to feel free to contact me
for support. I want to help you with your grief and maybe as a group we can
do something about the bridge itself. I honestly feel there should be a
fence high enough to discourge those that want to jump. Other than a few
phones, there is nothing to stop them from jumping. I understand the Golden
Gate Bridge has a high fence and is considering a net to catch them if they
make it over TO jump. PLEASE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS NEEDS TO
STOP!!! My son left behind a 9 year old daughter that will never understand.
He left behind an entire family that loves him, and always will, not to
mention all of his friends that he has known for the 31 precious years he
was with us. The tragedy of this is it will never end. The government will
never take steps if we don't speak up!!!!
All it takes is one person to speak up and I am speaking up. I am asking all
of you to do the same. Lets take a stand and try to put an end to this
tragic way of ending ones life. I understand all about mental illness, but
there are other ways of dealing with it. Suicide is never the answer.
Does anyone else agree that it is too easy on the Skyway Bridge? Does anyone
else agree that there are no safety measures in place to stop the jumpers?
Do you know which government agency I can contact to make our stories known?
I am willing to go the distance if you are.
(we address our opinions on barriers and nets
here. again, we are sorry your son chose
to end his life as he did. such a tragic way to leave those left behind.)
make
contact.
|
.
| 02.12.08: possible jumper |
thank you,
jumpnews
reporters:
02.12.08, Bill E., Riverview Fl., (02.12.08, 3:33pm), Pinellas County
Sheriff's Office show 'suicide suspect, unarmed, Sunshine Skyway"
(we suppose having no arms could be suicidable.)
02.13.08, teresa m., largo, fl., (02.12.08, 3:30pm, male), was fishing
just offshore by the southbound rest area on pinellas side when the rain
started, first saw fire rescue then fire truck show up at rest stop, then
at least a half dozen rescue and sheriff boats started heading for the
skyway, fire truck went to top of skyway (southbound) and stopped there,
decided to get closer to see activity but was bombarded by the storm
moving in so we sought shelter under the bridge, while waiting out the
storm the marine radio was reporting for all vessels in the area of the
skyway to be on the lookout for a white male in his twenties that may be
in the water in that area, I can tell you this if someone did jump it will
probably be days before they are recovered the storm at the bridge was so
dense that you could see nothing over 100 ft in front of you, I felt bad
for the rescue personel who had to put their lives on the line searching
for someone who care about their own, hope all made it home safe and God
Bless them
(any more
info is welcome.)
|
|
02.12.08,
Hillsborough County Sheriff:
SUICIDE ATT-INPR 1 SKYWAY BG 1537 1949
4h12m
|
.
.
.
. |
watch 'the bridge',
a documentary movie about 'golden gate' bridge jumpers, now on this
site.
