Deputy Saves Man Dangling From Parrotts Ferry Bridge

Authorities saved a man attempting to jump off a bridge in Calaveras County on Monday, February 8.

A photo posted to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office shows a Deputy grabbing the dangling man's arm through the bars of the bridge's railing.

The deputy said he had to sprint in order to save the man and broke his thumb in the process.

"It was adrenaline, is what it was," said Cpl. Andrew Long. If he hadn't got there in the time, the man would have plunged 150 feet off of Parrotts Ferry bridge.

The Tuolomne County Sheriff's Office said they received a report that a man was threatening to jump off a local bridge just after midnight on Monday.

Several agencies patrolled the two bridges in the Sierra Nevada area throughout the early morning, according to police.

At around 3:00 A.M. the man's car was found near the Parrotts Ferry bridge.

Then at 7:00 A.M. a boat patrol and deputies from the Tuolomne and Calaveras County sheriff's offices started another search.

Three hours later they found the man standing on the bridge. Authorities attempted to talk the man down for about 10 minutes but then he climbed over the railing and tried to jump, according to authorities.

It was then that Long forced this arm through the railing and caught the man by his forearm. AP News says the man dangled over the water for about 30 seconds before more authorities came to pull him to safety.

No one was hurt in the incident.

In a statement, the sheriff's department said, "We want to thank all of our allied agencies and the heroic work of all law enforcement personnel today. Your bravery, dedication and persistence saved a life."

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Photo: Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office