A bicyclist stopped a 19-year-old from jumping off the George Washington Bridge on Thursday.
A chest-high railing, security cameras and Port Authority Police foot patrols are all that prevent those who want to end their lives by throwing themselves off the George Washington Bridge. A fence is planned for completion in 2024, at a cost of at least $35 million. (File photo) FORT LEE - A bicyclist on the George Washington Bridge helped a suicidal man step off a railing to safety Thursday afternoon, according to the Port Authority Police Department.
It was the second time in two days a suicidal person was stopped from jumping off the bridge, police said.
The latest incident occurred about 5:20 p.m., mid-span on the south walk of the bridge, according to Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for Port Authority police.
Police responded to the bridge after receiving a 911 call about a possible jumper.
Officers observed a 19-year-old man on on the bridge, being helped off the railing by a passing bicyclist, Pentangelo said.
Pentangelo said the suicidal man had been walking his dog on the walkway for a period of time.
"At some point, he tethered his dog to the rail and began to climb atop the rail," the spokesman said. "A passing bicyclist observed this and was able to get subject off the railing."
The man who attempted to jump is from Franklin, Mass., police said. He was taken to a command center where he was evaluated by Fort Lee EMTs before being taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus.
On Wednesday, police grabbed a man threatening to jump from the bridge, also on the south walkway, according to Pentangelo.
The 35-year-old, from Guatemala, was taken into custody for medical evaluation, Pentangelo said.
So far this year, there have been seven fatal jumps from the GWB. There were 18 deaths in 2015.
Retrofitting the bridge with an anti-suicide fence can be costly, complex and may affect the bridge's stability, including how it absorbs the stress of high winds, officials say.
However, as part of an ongoing overhaul of the bridge, the Port Authority has plans to install a fence and suicide prevention system by 2024 at a cost of at least $35 million, officials have said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.